Expanding the Northeast Section of the Springwater Trail – Reynolds Gull Area Road Hike – October 26, 2014

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Pam

It occurred to me this past week that Springwater Trails could expand the development of our original plan for a 32 mile continuous trail around Springwater. While being a trail angel for a long distance hiker named Chosen, I had the opportunity to help navigate her trek through the area of Swain on the Finger Lakes Trail and Franklinville on the North Country Trail. Due to hunting season, obstacles and closures on the trail, I followed her by car around the back roads of Allegany and Cattaraugus County, enabling her to complete a day distance trip of 22 miles on state forest trails and dirt or paved roads without carrying her full backpack. It’s called “slackpacking,” a benefit that hikers have when they have a trail angel to provide support services.

On the local level, this experience with a long distance hiker expanded my hike planning to taking a look at our original plan of a continuous 32 mile trail around Springwater. The idea of the trail around Springwater was developed a few years ago by an original committee called Springwater Parks and Trails. Using this background information, our president Mark designed a large scale map of where the trail could possibly be located. To date we have 4 trail areas in progress, 3 with landowners permission and one on state land.

The proposed “master plan” in the northeast section of Springwater accesses Harriet Hollister State Park to the north in Canadice to the newly acquired state park property on Wetmore Road, following Town Line Road westward near the Nature Conservancy areas to a dirt road called Reynolds Gull Road. The trail would then drop unto Canadice Lake Road, hopefully accessing some private property someday and connect with the DEC Hemlock/Canadice State Forest at Johnson Hill. Once reaching the large parking lot Rt. 15A, hikers could continue hiking the south boat launch trail to Hemlock Lake, or access the Village of Springwater to the south to explore the western part of the town.

13 hikers this past Sunday traveled the proposed route, starting at 2000′ and dropping to 1000′. Two cars transported 10 hikers and two dogs to the top of Reynolds Gull Road while 3 hikers leisurely enjoyed hiking the Johnson Hill Trail, crossing the top of a dry waterfall. Long distance hikers completed 6 miles in 2 hours exactly. They picked up speed as they walked paved and dirt roads, accessing a DEC grassy trail off Johnson Hill Road which provided scenic views of fall trees, Hemlock Lake, steep gullies and waterfalls. Reynolds Gull Road alone is a beautiful road to walk and the waterfall on the Johnson Hill trail is spectacular most of the year, especially in the winter and spring.

After the hike we warmed ourselves by the campfire at Pati and Jim’s, where a delicious roasted ham was prepared by Jim, healthy meals by others, and even 3 desserts! Thanks go to Pati and Jim for hosting our social and to Chosen for her inspiration and education.

Johnson Hill Trail/Reynolds Gull – October 26, 2014 2:00

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Pam

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.

The Missing Sneaker – Hiking the Canadice Lake Shoreline – October 5, 2014

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Pam

Don was right…you can’t walk the entire shoreline of Canadice Lake. Wetlands at the southeast end of the lake prevented a hiker from continuing along the east shoreline when he was sucked into the mud and couldn’t get out. Luckily he managed to escape, leaving his sneaker someplace behind for a artifact to be found someday. In the meantime, on the other side of the lake, 13 hikers followed the grassy trail around the south end of the lake, dropping down onto the shoreline past the marshy area. 4 hikers completed the hike all around the lake, sometimes accessing the road for a break from the stones or marshy areas, traveling at least 3/4 of the shoreline area for a total of 8 miles. Others hiked almost 6 miles of shoreline for pick up at the boat launch.

Tourists walked half way down the lake on the rocky west shoreline, making a unanimous decison to pick up speed on the upper grassy trail. While Pati entertained us with stories of an old indian village buried 80 feet under the lake, others navigated the shoreline stones, occasionally climbing over downed logs. Climbers continued on the entire west shoreline and both groups met up at the spillway area about the same time.

Thanks go out to the City of Rochester for allowing us to access the restricted area at the north end of the lake. Without water overflowing into the spillway, the dam area felt like some sort of terrain park or play land for skateboarders or trick bicyles. Crossing the bridge, we observed the waters from Canadice Lake being passed through the gate into the Canadice Outlet which eventually flows into Hemlock Lake 4 miles downstream. Many mills were built on the outlet area in the mid 1800’s to take advantage of the power these waters created, dropping 200′ from Canadice to Hemlock Lake with no dam to control the outflow.

After hike social was full of surprises, including our usual healthy food, lasagna and dehydrated apples. A surprise guest from Kentucky joined us for our hike as he was traveling through the area. Bill Cooke, former CPA for the Environmental Protection Agency presented a slide presentation on his book Shades of Gray, Splashes of Color – A Thru-hike of the Colorado Trail. Thanks Bill for sharing your 482-mile backpack journey with us and also for the pictures provided for this hike. Bill may be hiking the entire Finger Lakes Trail next year and possibly we can join him someplace on the way. Start your Christmas shopping list: good hiking boots, carrying pack, light weight tent, sleeping bag and pad, small cooking equipment, and dehydrated foods. Men usually carry about 40 lbs on their back, women 20 lbs. Anyone want to train?

Exploring the Canadice Lake Shoreline – October 5, 2014 2:00 (note Fairhaven hike postponed)

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Pam

Sometimes you just have to seize the moment when our “little finger lakes” provide an unusual hiking opportunity. The weather has been unseasonably warm, the lake level of Canadice Lake is unusually low, and bow hunting season is upon us in the DEC Hemlock/Canadice State Forest The City of Rochester has been working on clearing debris in the Canadice Outlet area and log jams on the dam off Rt. 15A in Hemlock and maintenance on the Canadice Lake spillway/gate area. This has resulted in the lowering of the Canadice Lake waters, keeping Hemlock Lake higher due to our storms in May and June and passage of the waters from Canadice Lake through the Canadice Outlet. For the past two years, Springwater Trails have hiked the shorelines of Hemlock Lake at this time of year. This year, the Canadice Lake shoreline provides hikers a unique opportunity for us to experience. Please note that dogs must be under control at all times and regulations require that they do not have contact with the water.

While kayaking on Canadice Lake this past week, I followed the shoreline to the north end to examine the possibility of an entire hike around the shoreline of Canadice Lake. What I experienced confirmed that a change of hike location was needed for our local hikers. We will meet at the South Canadice Lake Trail on Canadice Lake Road at 1:45 for immediate take off at 2:00. Following the south grassy trail through the swampy area to the west side, we will drop onto the shoreline and hike to the spillway area at the northwest end of the lake, then cross over to the northeast shoreline and hike at least to the boat launch or further, time permitting. Climbers will attempt to hike the entire shoreline at a fast pace, Tourists will hike to the boat launch for a pick up, and Naturalists may walk at their desired pace as far as they wish for an hour and return to their cars at the south end. Bring your cameras for capturing fall foliage pictures, sighting the eagles, and colorful reflections in the water.

After hike social/campfire will be at Pam’s on Old Bald Hill Road. Bring a healthy fall dish to pass and your drink of choice. Also, for those interested in beginning archery, bring your bows and arrows! We have a special guest hiking with us today from Kentucky, Bill Cooke. He recently authored a book narrating his hike of the 486 mile Colorado Trail. He is passing through the area to attend the ALDHA Conference in Williamstown, Mass. and will offer a slide show presentation of his Colorado hike.
Directions for the south entrance at Canadice.