Last year, Springwater Trails signed up to maintain a section of the Finger Lakes Trail, Bristol Branch.  We are responsible for the section from W Hollow Rd and Seman Rd to Mt Pleasant St and N Main St in Naples.  This section passes through the West Hill Preserve off Seman Rd and then across private land to Mt Pleasant St in Naples.

This Sunday, we will explore the Preserve and follow the trail, making notes about areas that need maintenance.  Maintenance days will be planned in the spring and late summer, to help keep this trail in the conditions that hikers have grown to expect.

We will meet at the entrance to the West Hill Preserve.  From there, the climbers will carpool to Naples and hike back to the cars.  Naturalists follow the Bristol trail to the sign in box, where Gene will replace the knob.  They then will explore the other trails on the Preserve, while the Tourists continue on the Bristol Branch for an hour before returning to the cars.

Please note: Dogs are not allowed to hike on the Nature Conservancy property.

Following the hike, please join us for a social at one of the fine restaurants in Naples.

Directions: 

From Springwater: Head south on NY 15 (for 5.2mi). At the light in Wayland turn left on NY 21N (for 6.7mi). In N Cohocton, turn left to stay on NY 21N (for 4.5mi). In Naples, turn left again to stay on NY 21N (for 1.8mi). On the north side of Naples, turn left on CR12 and head up the hill for 1.9 miles.  Take the first left, Rhine St., to the 4 way  intersection.  Go left onto Seman Rd.  Trailhead is about 1/2 mile, by a big sign on the left. Park along the road.

From Honeoye: Head south on CR 36 on the west side of Honeoye Lake (for 13.6 miles from NY 20A). Turn left onto Gulick Rd (for 2 mi), then right on Davis Rd (for 0.7mi). At the end of Davis, turn left on W Hollow Rd (CR 33) for 0.5mi, then right on Seman Rd. The Trailhead is about 1 mile, by a big sign on the right. Park along the road.

Once agina, the Springwater Center has kindly offered to host our Annual Meeting.  This scenic property overlooking the Springwater Valley, and half-way between Webster Crossing and the Hamlet is very appropriate for Springwater Trails.  Our thanks to the entire staff of the center for their welcome.

Prior to the Annual Meeting. we will enjoy the many well marked trails that loop through open fields and forested areas. The trails through the fields are mowed and there are wonderful views of the surrounding hills and the valley below. Two of the trails parallel a creek bed and gorge and one loops to another seasonal creek. Keep your eyes open for the Marker Tree near the creek. Following our hikes, we will set up a pot-luck dinner in the kitchen.  Everyone interested in Springwater Trails is welcome to the pot-luck and the Annual Meeting, and to the hike.

There will be three hikes Wayne Coger and Susan McCallum, longtime Center members, will be available to answer questions and help with directions. Well-mannered dogs are welcome to hike with us.  Dogs should stay in cars during the social.

If you are able to join us for the social after the hike, please bring a dish to pass and a non-alcoholic beverage or consider making a cash donation.  There is a complete kitchen to store and reheat the dishes as needed.  Please bring slippers as shoes will  need to be removed at the door.

Directions

From Springwater: Take Rt 15 to the West from the flashing light at the intersection with Rt 15A.  Follow Rt 15 up the hill.  Turn right at the top of the hill on Mill St Ext (just across the road from Harpers Ferry Rd) – you will see a Dead End sign. Springwater Center is the third driveway to the left (0.1 mile along Mill St. Ext., you will see the sign). Follow the driveway for 0.6 miles to reach the Center parking lot. The main building is just past the parking lot.

Additional directions to the Center are here.

NOTE: This is the first day of Daylight Savings Time.  The hike will start promptly at 2:00 Eastern Daylight Time. The hike will be followed by a social at the Springwater Center and by the Springwater Trails Annual Meeting.

Following the Sunday hike, join us for the Springwater Trails, Inc, annual meeting. We plan to have a slideshow reviewing the 2015 hikes, and a talk, with slides, about Antarctica by Melissa.

The Social and Annual Meeting is open to everyone, and your comments are welcome.  Voting for officers and other business brought up at the meeting is limited to members of Springwater Trails.  Membership forms will be available at the meeting and memberships for 2016 can be purchased at half price.

Agenda

• Welcome to members and friends
• A review of 2015
• Looking ahead to 2016
  • Springwater Bicentenial
  • Springwater Trails Goals
  • A word about seasonal hike coordinators
• Election of Officers
• Penguins of Antarctica – Melissa Cohen
• Adjournment

Powerpoint for the Annual Meeting is available here.

NOTE: The social and annual meeting will start at about 4:30 Daylight Savings Time

NOTE CHANGE IN HIKE STARTING TIME

Have you been enjoying the aroma of boiling maple sap in the air, since January?  Today, we’re going to enjoy this year’s Palm Sunday with a lunch of pancakes with this year’s maple syrup, a hike in a new location for our group, and conclude this great day with a social at the home of one of our newest members. 

We will meet today at Wohlschlegel’s Maple Farm, near the east end of Coates Rd., west of Naples.  For $7.00, you can get all the pancakes you can eat, 2 sausages and beverage.  Everyone I’ve ever talked to has given me great reports about the quality of their pancakes and syrup so, I’m looking forward to a treat.  Their pancake kitchen closes at 1 PM so, you will need to get there by 12:30 to enjoy your meal.  If there’s time after your meal, you can enjoy tours of their farm as well as samples of some of their maple products.  If you’re still hungry, or come late, there will be hot dogs and other items available.

Because you have to get there by 12:30 for your pancake lunch, we’re going to start our hike today at 1:30.  We will have our usual 3 hiking groups, starting on the snowmobile trail on their farm.  Mark, assisted by Duffy, will lead the climbers, possibly to the late Chuck Winship’s Sugarbush Hollow.  John Larysz has agreed to lead the tourists I will attempt to lead the naturalists.

After our hiking workout, John has offered to break bread at his home so, bring your broken bread and come on over.  You know the routine, same as last week, dish to pass or feed the kitty.

There will be no hike next week so, enjoy your Easter.  See you in 2 weeks, bright eyed and bushy tailed, or the other way around.

Directions:

Wohlschlegel’s Maple Farm, 8064 Coates Rd. Naples.  From Wayland.  Go east on SR 21.  Left on to CR 38.  At the end, go left at the T.  Left on Coates Rd.  Farm is on the left, about 1/2 mile.  Look for the bright purple roof.  There are also signs on the road to help you.  If your sweet Garmin lady tells you to enter Coates Rd. from Pardee Hollow, she doesn’t know that Coates is a rough seasonal road at that end, so you may want to make her recalculate.  According to Garry W., she’s been known to send people to a potato field.  Their phone number is 775-7770.

John Larysz.  8402 French Hill Rd., Naples.  From Wohlschlegel’s, turn right on Coates.  At the end, right at the T.  Go straight, to French Hill Rd. and turn left on it, till you reach John’s house.  It’s green, has a mailbox with the number on it, and there are not too many houses on that road.  Ms. Garmin should help you with this one but, if not, and you’re lost, call him at 374-8366, and you will be found.

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Choose up to three seminars on topics of interest to landowners in the Genesee Valley region, including Technology for the Landowner, Hardwood Tree Plantations in the Genesee Valley, Solar Power, and Securing Your Legacy. Registration fee includes supper. For complete details and registration information, see the schedule or contact Dave Bojanowski at (585) 243 219 or daveb at geneseeValleyconservancy.org.

Landowners, interested in hosting public hiking trails on their property, will benefit from the Landowner Liability Conscerns workshop being held at 7:00.

As a hobbyist maple syrup producer David Colligan, Colligan Law, LLP, has focused his practice in the areas of Natural Resources Law including Timber and Oil and Gas Law. He will cover a variety of liability legal issues related to land owners such as timberland, property posting and oil and gas law.

You may be interested in additional Genesee Valley Conservancy events.