Enjoy the back route from Atlanta to Wayland.

On Sunday, our Trail Master, Rick, will lead Springwater Trails volunteers on cleaning up the Wheaton Hill trails for the summer season.  Please come and take a hike around the four Wheaton Hill loops and help make the trails sparkle for visitors to Springwater.

The primary need is to mow the trails.  Rick will bring a tractor mower that will clean up the parking area and the Spruce Loop trail on the north east side of Wheaton Hill Rd.  He will then try to get around the Redbud Trail (south west of the road).  The Pine Trail on the north west side is not passable for the tractor.  If anyone has a smaller mower with a high blade able to avoid small rocks on the trail, please contact Rick as soon as possible. The mower needs to be able to mow grass and small roses and other prickers.  And you need to be able to get it across a small gully across the trail (walls about 2 feet high).  Or, if you can, bring a string weedwacker to help mow.

There are at least two logs across the Pine Trail about 3 inches in diameter – a small bow saw should be sufficient.  There is also one large leaner across the trail which we will not try to remove.

And, clippers for the roses will be useful on all of the trails, although hard work last year means that the roses no longer get in the way of hiking these trails.  You may find some that need trimming before the get out into the trail, or you may choose to attach a large bush at the side of the trail. Clippers and gloves are very important for this work – if you always keep the bush away from your arms and legs you can avoid scratches, and more importantly, poison ivy which seems to like the roses.  Plan to wash your cloves and any other clothes that may have touched the poison ivy.

Directions: Wheaton Hill is the first right turn north of the intersection of Rt 15 and Rt 15A in Springwater (0.9 mile north of the intersection).  The trail head is 0.5 miles up Wheaton Hill just before the road turns straight east and heads up the main hill.  More details are on the directions page.

What to bring:

• If you have a trail mower, contact our Trail Master before Sunday.
• Gloves and clippers – hand clippers or long handled loppers if you want to attack a large rose bush.
• Small bow saw.
• Plastic grocery bag in case you find any litter.
• Water to keep hydrated.

This past winter Springwater Trail hikers explored the C-4 snowmobile trail around Lanning/Richards Road on the border of Livingston/Ontario and Steuben Counties, and extension into the unique Wolf Gull area in the Township of Naples. Access to this area is only by private road and permission from landowners. Following up on the suggestion of Mr. Shipman, local landowner, we were invited to return to the ponds where ferns were said to be 5 feet high and the aquatic life vibrant around the first of July.

Ellen Folts from Amanda’s Garden will be our Naturalist leader, following a mostly flat private road through the gull area. Ellen will identify a variety of native perennial plants, taking time to photograph and enjoy the unique environment.

Tourists and Climbers led by Pam and Rick will explore the side roads around Wolf Gull, climbing to the top of the hills to enjoy scenic views of windmills and freshly planted farm fields.

After Hike Social will be at the Mountain View in Atlanta.

Directions:

We will meet at Schum Acres on Atlanta Garlinghouse Road. Watch for our Springwater Trails sign.  Detailed directions are here.

Hike Highland Park and Mt Hope Cemetery.  Followed by a picnic social and (optional) Shakespeare in the Park.  This is a SATURDAY, July 5th hike. (NOT Sunday)

Meet at 2:30 at Springwater Town Hall to car pool.

ADK-GVC hike at Hi-Tor WMA/Conklin Gully

Hike Announcement below was written with a Rochester area start & end of carpool.  Times adjusted to not using the carpool are approximately 11:30am-4:00pm (instead of 10:30am & 5:00pm).

——ADK-GVC HIKE ANNOUNCEMENT——
When:Sun, July 6, 10:30am – 5:00pm
Where:Thornell Farm Park for carpool (map)
Description: Conklin Gully is located in the High Tor Wildlife Management area just outside of Naples. The main “trail” is simply the creek bed. You have to be willing to get your feet wet, assuming the water is running. While only 2 miles, this is one of the most challenging creek walks in the central & western New York region and not one to undertake if you’re afraid of heights. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, you’re in for a treat! There are series of gorgeous (pun intended) cascading waterfalls to walk up, but the real payoff comes at the end — An up-close view of the 50-foot waterfall! TO CARPOOL: please arrive by 10:30 a.m. at Thornell Farm Park in Pittsford on Pittsford Mendon Rd. (Rte. 64), next to the high school. We will leave at 10:45. Or, meet us at the trailhead at 11:30 a.m. There is a signed parking area on 245 just east of Parish Hill Road. (42.633201N 77.36551W)

WHAT TO BRING:

• Footwear with good traction   • A small backpack    • Water    • A snack or lunch    • Enthusiasm!

For more information, contact David Schott,   davidschott@roc hester.rr.com, 314-8092.

Take a hike up the creek

Victor Hiking Trails will lead a creek walk on Saturday, July 12th up and down Conklin Creek, located in the High Tor Wildlife Management Area, near the village of Naples. This is not an easy hike and it is not recommended for small children.

You will be walking in the creek, so bring your water shoes, a bag lunch and something to drink. You may also want to bring dry socks and hiking boots if the group decides to hike other areas of the park.

Meet at Victor Town Hall rear parking lot, 85 East Main Street, at 9:00 a.m. to car pool to the trailhead. Or meet the group at the parking lot on Rt. 245, just west of Parish Hill Road, at 9:50 a.m. The group will return to Victor around 3:00 p.m. Additional information is available at  585-234-8226  or www.victorhikingtrails.org.

This week we are hiking into the beautiful Wesley Hill Nature Preserve and also kayaking the  Honeoye Inlet.  Please choose one and follow those directions.  Each event will start at a different location and different times.

WESLEY HILL HIKERS – 4:00 PM We will meet at the Preserve parking lot on Wesley Hill Rd.  This is a land preserve covering 359 acres, owned by Finger Lakes Trust.  The trails traverse old-growth forests, fields, wetlands, streams, ponds, and deep gorges.  Its an oasis of beauty.

CLIMBERS(led by Charlotte) will follow the yellow trail, right on blue trail to yellow trail past overlook and cabin, red trail over creek to green trail (right), back on green trail to red trail to Anna’s Pond, red trail back to yellow and parking lot.  (6 miles)

TOURISTS (led by Amy) will follow the yellow trail keeping left at all turns, to red trail to Anna’s Pond continue on red to green (right)  and again right on red trail back to creek crossing, yellow trail back to parking lot. (4.5 miles)

 HONEOYE INLET KAYAKERS – 3:45 PM