Learn the story of the Genesee Valley’s historic transportation corridor as it transitions from a 19th century
canal, to a railroad and then, a Greenway before becoming New York’s newest and longest State Park in 2011. Joan Schumaker, Local Historian.

See the full American Innovation: Winter Discovery Series schedule.

NOTICE: Daylight Savings Time starts on Sunday.

This week’s hike was originally scheduled for the Bristol Hills Branch through Hi Tor.  This section is 5.6 miles according to the FLT map, which is a bit longer than a standard climbers hike (4 to 4.5 miles), did not seem out of line with other hikes in this series.  However, the snow makes a difference. On Wednesday, Linda and I did a pre-hike which took over 5 hours – way too long, even if we started an hour early.  So, quick change of plans.

Sunday’s hike will be at 8664 Schribner Rd. There will be three hikes of 1, 2 or 3 miles long. Today (Thursday), the snow is 8 to 10 inches deep with a crust on the top. Snow shoes or cross country skis are highly recommended, although boots will be acceptable once a couple of snowshoes lead the way. Each hike will be adjustable by the hike leader to accommodate conditions. So plan on a two hour winter hike through fields and woods.

The Climbers and Skiers will head across the valley and then go south along the side of the valley. This hike will climb one short but steep climb up from the creek. On the way back, skiers may want to take off their skis since the snow is crusty and heavy and the trail is narrow. We will go down and back up the valley on either side of the old farmer’s fields. The fields are now filled with pines and other trees planted in the 1950’s.

The Tourists will also cross the valley, but will turn right for a slightly shorter hike. This hike will follow the edge of the hardwood forest that was harvested three years ago.  Hikers on the Cleveland Hill section of the BHB last month, may want to compare logging to encourage regeneration of Oak trees on Cleveland Hill, to logging to allow the small Maple trees to thrive.

The Naturalists will stay on the road side of the valley. The hike will only climb about 50 feet across a large field. At the top, be sure to turn around for the best view on the property. On the way back, we will take a quick peak inside the Red Pine woods planted in the 1930’s. You will see a few trees marked for telephone poles, but not worth the effort needed to remove them.

After the hike, please join us for a social at our house. Bring a dish to pass and your own beverage, or contribute $5 to the social fund.

Directions are available here. If you use a GPS, enter “Schribner and Tabors Corners Rd, Wayland NY” and the come up Schribner Rd for 1 mile. Park along the road just past the driveway, or park in the driveway if there is room.

For the fourth year in a row, the staff at Springwater Center has invited Springwater Trails to enjoy a hike on their scenic property overlooking the Springwater Valley. Our thanks to Wayne Coger and Susan McCallum and the entire staff of the center for their welcome.

If the weather forecast holds, expect some wonderful sun and plenty of snow on the ground to enjoy skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. Last year, the upper portion of the trails were perfect for skiing with a couple of short downhills for excitement for everyone.

The many well marked trails that loop through open fields and forested areas are mowed across the fields and were clear last fall through the woods and give opportunities for 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.

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.

It is time again for the Springwater Trails, Inc. annual meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to elect officers for 2018, to inform our members about the activities of the group in 2017 and the handle any new business concerning the organization and the year ahead.

The schedule for the day will be: Hike the Springwater Center property at 2:00, Social setup at 4:00, Annual meeting at 4:45, Traveling in Europe at 5:15.

Following the business portion of the meeting, our own Vice President, John Larysz will share his pictures and experiences traveling in Europe. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask important questions such as the camera that he uses, how to rent a car that Americans can drive in Europe, or how to pronounce his name. You may have seen some of his pictures on Facebook, so this will be a great opportunity to hear commentary about the best of the best.

The Social and Annual Meeting is open to everyone interested in Springwater, trails and hiking. Your comments and advice are welcome during the meeting.  Voting for officers and other business brought up at the meeting is limited to members of Springwater Trails, Inc. Honorary memberships are awarded to hikers who have completed 20 group activities during the previous calendar year or to 5 maintenance events, to members of the executive board who have served for a full year term, and to landowners who allow the Springwater Trail on their property. Membership forms are also available on line and at the meeting and memberships for 2018 can be purchased at the meeting or before for half price ($10 for an individual, $15 for a family).

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.

There are five elected officers: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and VP of hiking. We will be accepting nominations for all five offices during the annual meeting, and all members will be allowed to vote for one nominee for each office. The duties of each officer are described in Article IV of the By-Laws of the Springwater Trails, Inc.

Annual Meeting Agenda

Welcome to members and friends
The year 2017 in review
President’s report
VP of Hiking report
Treasurer’s report
Nominations from the floor for Officers
Election of Officers
Plans for 2018

Traveling in Europe 
pictures and commentary from John Larysz

Adjournment

Learn some wildlife photography basics with John. Join in to discuss cameras, lenses, tripods, photo blinds,
and camouflage. John Adamski will instruct the audience on how, when, and where to find wildlife to photograph.

See the full American Innovation: Winter Discovery Series schedule.

NOTE CHANGE IN HIKE STARTING TIME

Have you been enjoying the aroma of boiling maple sap in the air?   We’re going to enjoy this year’s Palm Sunday with a lunch of pancakes with this year’s maple syrup, followed by a revisit to a hike which our group did back in 2016.  The pancake lunch will be today’s social.

We will meet 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.  Their pancake kitchen opens at 8 AM but 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.   For more information on Wohlschlegel’s Naples Maple Farm you can check out their website at: http://www.fingerlakesbulkmaplesyrup.com/

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 will lead the climbers, possibly to the late Chuck Winship’s Sugarbush Hollow.  John has agreed to lead the tourists, Wendy will lead the naturalists.

There will be no hike next week so, enjoy your Easter.  See you in 2 weeks.

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.  Don’t attempt to enter Coates Rd. from Pardee Hollow, as it may not be plowed and is a rough seasonal road at that end.

This view of the Genesee River middle falls in Letchworth Park, shows the Genesee Valley Canal clinging to the steep wall of the gorge in the 1860s. Click on the image for more information from Letchworthparkhistory.com.

This week’s hike will follow trail #7 in Letchworth Park.  Trail #7 is the portion of the Genesee Valley Greenway through the park. It is also the section of the Greenway with the most impressive relics of the Genesee Valley Canal.

Trail #7 starts at Oakland Rd about a mile outside of Nunda. Here we will walk next to the original locks that allowed boats to climb the hill to the River. The canal operated in this section between 1862 and 1878 and the right of way was sold to the Genesee valley Canal Railroad Company which built a railroad along much of the canal towpath.  As we walk next to the canal lock, the railroad took another route slightly north. In about a half mile, the canal path rejoins the rail path up to Short Track Road. A short detour on Williams Road will take us into Letchworth Park proper, where we can pick up the rail bed again. After crossing a seasonal section of River Rd, the trail continues for another two miles to the Parade Grounds where, in warmer weather, we will return for a picnic.

All hikers will meet at the Parade Grounds in Letchworth Park, and will carpool to the start of the hike at Oakland Rd. The Tourists will drop off a car at River Rd on the way, to allow them to ferry back to their cars.

The Naturalists will start from Oakland Rd, following the canal to the junction with the railbed. It is just over a mile to Short Tract Road, where the Naturalists will turn around and hike back to the cars, using the railbed route all of the way, for a two mile hike.

The Tourists will follow the same route to Short Tract Rd. There is a slight jog to the right to follow a detour along Williams Rd. When the road turns left, continue straight into the woods on the Genesee Valley Greenway. The next road is River Rd, also known as Trail #8, where the Tourists will turn left and follow the road south to their cars on NY 436..This hike will be about 3 miles total.

The Climbers will follow the Tourist route to River Rd, where it will continue on the Letchworth Branch of the FLT until we come to the Park Road. Turning left on the road will take us up to our cars at the Parade Ground parking area. Total hike: 4 miles.

Following the hike, we will gather at the Sunrise Restaurant in Dansville (188 Main St) for an optional social.

Directions Directions to the Parade Grounds inside Letchworth Park near the Portageville entrance.

From Springwater: Follow NY-15 South for 6.8 miles. Turn right onto I-390N. , take Ossian St (rt 36) west. In 6.2 miles, take the next exit (#4) for Dansville. Turn left onto NY-36 N and take the first left onto Jefferson St. At the end of Jefferson St, turn left on Ossian St.. Stay on Ossian St which becomes Rt 436.  Continue on 436 for 18 miles to the Parade Grounds Entrance to Letchworth.  Follow the Parade Grounds Road (a 90 degree right from Rt 436) into the park about 0.75 mile.  We will meet in the parking area on the left side of the Parade Grounds Road. (N 42° 35.013 W 078° 01.910)

The entrance to Letchworth Park from Rt 436

From Dansville: From Main St, take Ossian St (rt 36) west.  Stay on Ossian St which becomes Rt 436.  Continue on 436 for 18 miles to the Parade Grounds Entrance to Letchworth.  Follow the Parade Grounds Road (a 90 degree right from Rt 436) into the park about 0.75 mile.  We will meet in the parking area on the left side of the Parade Grounds Road. (N 42° 35.013 W 078° 01.910)

From Mt Morris: Take Rt 408 S on Chapel St for 11.1 miles to Nunda.  Turn Right on Rt 436 and proceed for 4.6 miles to the Parade Grounds Entrance to Letchworth.  Follow the Parade Grounds Road (a 90 degree right from Rt 436) into the park about 0.75 mile.  We will meet in the parking area on the left side of the Parade Grounds Road. (N 42° 35.013 W 078° 01.910)

Directions to the Sunrise Restaurant from Nunda: Take NY-436 East from Nunda. In Dansville, continue straight onto NY-36 Ossian St. At the light, turn left onto Main St. The restaurant is on the right side.

We are returning to our monthly series on the Bristol Hills Branch (BHB) of the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT). This Sunday and in May, we will climb up out of Italy Valley and cross Hi Tor overlooking Canandaigua Lake. These two hikes are each over 5.5 miles, but don’t worry, we are planning hikes of various lengths so everyone is welcome to enjoy the trails.

This section of the BHB connects High Tor to Italy Hill State Forest with road walks and across private property.  From the top of the hill, we will stop to enjoy a spectacular view of Italy Valley to the south.

The Climbers will start on Italy Valley Road at 1010′ above sea level. We will cross a narrow field and then start climbing. All hikers will need to watch for the orange blazes and orange FLT discs to ensure we stay on the trail as it goes on and off a logging road. In just under a mile, we will climb 800 feet, to where the trail turns south and more closely follows the contours so we only climb another 200 feet over the next two miles. Just past the view clearing, we will turn north and exit the woods onto Wood Hill Rd. Following this seasonal road, we will return most of our altitude gain until we reach Bassett Rd and our waiting cars. If hikers want to continue on the road walk up Bassett Rd and Brink Hill Rd to Access Point 7 where next month’s hike will start, a car will meet them at the end of the hike.

The Tourists will enjoy the same hike as the climbers but in reverse. This climb up Wood Hill Rd is only 700 feet over a mile. Once we leave Wood Hill Rd, the last 2.5 miles is all down hill. Bring a granola bar and enjoy a snack and a drink of water at the overlook at the top.  The Climbers and Tourists will need to swap car keys when they pass each other.

The Naturalists will hike the back side of High Tor, starting from the Bassett Rd parking area. This hike is on DEC maintenance roads which are wide and fairly flight (about 200 feet over a mile walk into the park. The Naturalists will follow the road to the left and continue for a mile until they reach the orange trail. A left turn onto the orange trail will bring the hikers to a pretty pond with the Howard Beye memorial bench to relax and enjoy the wildlife. From the pond, return on the orange trail back to the maintenance road. Turn right and continue down to the parking lot.

 All hikers should meet at the Bassett Rd parking area in High Tor by 1:45 to give the tourists and climbers time to car pool to the starts of the hike. Tourists will go left on Bassett Rd and drive to Wood Hill Rd (the second left) and park on the shoulder of Bassett Rd.  Climbers will continue on Bassett Rd past Wood Hill and turn left on Italy Valley Rd. In 3 miles, there are wooden horse fences on each side of the road. Just past the bridge across the creek, there is parking on the left at the trail head.Climbers will want to give their car keys to the Tourists when they meet them on the trail, so they can bring the cars back to Wood Hill Rd.

Following the hike, please join us for an optional social at the Redwood Inn in Naples. Follow Bassett Rd and Italy Valley Rd west to NY-53.  Turn right toward Naples. At the hardware store, turn left onto NY-21 and the Redwood inn is on the left.

Directions:

From Wayland: Head east on NY Route 21 toward N Cohocton and Naples.  Turn left at the stop sign in N Cohocton to stay on Rt 21.  At the stop sign in Naples, turn right onto NY 53.  Follow Rt 53 for 1.3 miles, and turn left onto Italy Valley Rd (Co Rd 21).  After 2.1 miles, turn left onto Bassett Rd.  The parking area is on the left after the first curve (about 0.3 miles) up Bassett

From Naples: Take Main St (Rt 21) South through the town of Naples.  Continue of Rt 53 when Rt 21 turns right.  Follow Rt 53 for 1.3 miles, and turn left onto Italy Valley Rd (Co Rd 21).  After 2.1 miles, turn left onto Basset Rd.  The parking area is on the left about 0.3 miles up Basset.