members of Victor Hiking Club reached summit

This past Saturday and Sunday I had the rare opportunity to join two area hiking groups. Saturday I joined the Victor Hiking Group in the Hemlock/Canadice State Forest for an enjoyable walk down the trail on the west side of a slightly ice covered Canadice Lake. A few miles down the lake we entered a forest trail which led to the Nature Conservancy area of Rob’s Trail, climbing 700 ft up Bald Hill to it’s summit and back. I was a little skeptical of being able to complete the climb, but our gracious leaders from the Victor Hiking Club were a little different than our climbers in Springwater Trails (who travel at great speeds), taking a break at every 100′ feet to rest and observe the area. Much to my surprise tourists are capable of the climb if you take your time!

lake had a slight icey coat, ready to melt in a 60 degree day

Observations included a strange kermit type rock, large cropping of oak trees on Nature Conservancy property, a strange oily substance coming from the wetland area at the summit, and first sightings of the wildflower coltsfoot. On the way down the slippery hill, we ended back at the lake trail, and decided to travel closer to the lake. The water was a turquoise color, the ice was just about to melt, and one could feel a cold temperature adjustment like you were opening a refrigerator. It was an interesting and refreshing sensation on a warm spring day.

is it Kermit the Frog? a turle head?

I thanked the Victor Hiking Group for inviting Springwater Trails to hike with them, gave them some maple granola and BBQ sauce, and showed them access areas to Hemlock Lake and the Canadice Outlet if they wanted to return at another date. It was a nice day off with no responsibilities. There are more pictures at the bottom of this post.

Ninety hikers attended celebration of Crescent Trail / Victor Senaca Trail connection.

10 springwater trails hikers attended

On Sunday, 10 country Springwater Trails hikers went to the “burbs” to join the Victor Hiking Club and the Crescent Trails Association in 70 degree summer like weather for the dedication of the new Seneca Trail and merging of two county trails, Monroe and Ontario, in the Towns of Perinton and Victor. 90 hikers showed up for the celebration behind the old Valentown Museum near Eastview Mall. For country hikers, Springwater Trails had a variety of new terrain experiences walking through mall parking lots, behind corporate buildings, across main intersections, as we began and ended our 4 mile hike through a forested area around a highly developed area. Our climbers were quick to be at the fore front of the hike, and some even hiking back for a distance of 8 miles. I think we impressed a few with our skills! Except for a few ST hikers most were pick up at the Woodcliff where buses transported us back to Valentown.

early skunk cabbage in wetland

Observations by Gene include sounds of spring peepers, cardinal, red wing blackbird, blue jay and song sparrows. Georgia and Pam identifed many trees, plants, mushrooms and wildflowers including beech, black cherry, red oak, white oak, chestnut, muscle, cottonwood and hornbeam trees, first spring wildflowers of skunk cabbage and coltsfoot.

Thanks again to our neighboring hiking clubs and David Wright, President of Victor Hiking Trails for inviting us to participate! Hope to join you again!

Some more pictures from Saturday.

And even more from Sunday in the burbs.

The wind is howling outside, either it’s a nor’easter, a chimney fire, or the crackling of ice coming from the outlet or Canadice Lake. Being unable to sleep with the unusual sound of a storm and predicting a power outage, I might as well reflect a little about this past week’s adventure into the Canadice Outlet. We had a great turn out with over 25 hikers, mostly all prepared with ice clamps (which are a little difficult to get on)to explore an area of the outlet we have never experienced before.

Welcome back Pati, Joan, Bob and new hikers Dave and Sherri.

20 hikers began their hike at the Canadice Hollow Cemetary looking for Mary Wintermoot’s gravestone. She was 83 when she passed and was born in 1761. Another woman, Olive Spencer was 93 when she passed and was born in 1771. Could she be related to Harriet Hollister Spencer Park in Honoeye? We diligently followed our fluorescent leader Rick through the narrow snow covered DEC logging trail, cutting through private lands with permission, and picking up the Hemlock/Canadice State Forest again that followed the rim of a very steep gorge. Far below the rim we caught glimpses of the frozen Canadice Creek. Some dam hikers actually made it to the end of the outlet, a restricted zone, being picked up by their favorite chauffer Bob on Rt. 15A. Other hikers chose to hike the woods back, rather than hiking the road, and unfortunately missed seeing the water from the creek flowing at the dam location. An underground tunnel actually takes the waters from Canadice Lake through the Canadice Outlet to Hemlock Lake. Maybe I can post the video on u-tube for all to see.

Naturalists followed the old Dixon Hollow Road, lead by Jim and Pati’s wonder dog, Goose. I’ll have to find out what they saw so I can post more. Jim said they hiked down to the Hemlock Grill, had a beer and hiked back when we ran into them. Gene confirmed. Wow they are fast! I did hear a few hikers did make it to the creek and indicated it was ice covered with some open spots of flowing water. Naturalists met up with the Climbers and Tourists at the Dixon Hollow Road to exchange stories.

After hike social was enjoyed by all leaving their boots dancing by the door. A variety of fruit and vegetable salads, brussel spouts, kale, maple barbacue pulled pork and chicken, and yummy chocolate desserts. You don’t loose weight on our hikes.

Thanks to the City of Rochester for giving us permission to hike in the restricted area by the dam, Dan Bock and Lydia Edlund, Mary Jane and Mike Bowman, for letting us cross their property.

Special thanks to Rick and Ellen for leading our hikers on a very well planned route
that avoided many deep ravines that would of been slippery this time of year. Make sure you watch the outlet during the spring thaws to learn why the old mills of Hemlock were located here and why the City of Rochester wanted this land in 1910. It’s quite powerful!

HINT: This post has several small thumbnail size pictures. Click on any picture to see it full size.