Hikes led by Springwater Trails are generally held on Sunday afternoons and appear in this calendar in green.
Are you looking for a great winter hike. This Sunday may be perfect. There was about 4 inches of snow on the ground Thursday, enough so you know it is winter but not so much as to interfere with hiking. Traction devices and even snow shoes will give you a stable base as you hike, and even XC Skis would provide an enjoyable trip for anyone willing to carry their skis across a few gullies.
Bring you traction devices or snowshoes and dress for winter, but in layers because you will warm up. And poles for stability. And plan to arrive at 1:45 to carpool to the top. If you miss us at the bottom parking area, please go directly to the end of Pulver Rd
This Sunday, the sunset will officially start to get later. We will take advantage of the extra minute of daylight for a hike from Dunn Rd up on Italy Hill for 5 miles down to Italy Valley. We will pass through Italy Hill State Forest, and follow an old logging road on a gradual descent of nearly 1000 feet. At the bottom, a short (0.2mi) road walk on Italy Valley Rd will return us to our cars. This is one of the best downhills you will find – a very shallow steady incline broken up occasionally by various sized gullies. The trail is very even and well cared for.
In addition to the forest all around us, highlights include a small waterfall, the “Outback Inn Shelter”, and an absolutely beautiful Hemlock lined small gully on the trail down..
As usual on our Bristol Hills Branch hikes, this hike is a one way hike for Climbers and Tourists, so we will have some car driving to do at the beginning of the hike.
All hikers will meet at the parking area on Italy Valley Rd (42.626312, -77.281368) just north of the Flint Creek crossing at 1:45. All hikers will then carpool up to the top of Italy Hill.
The Climbers will drive South on Italy Valley Rd to Italy Turnpike, then up the hill to Dunn Rd where they will turn left and park at the end of the road. We will hike straight ahead on an abandoned section of the road for 0.7 mi, and then turn right to continue on the trail over to Pulver Rd where we will pass the Tourist cars and continue on the same route they are taking.
The Tourists will also drive South on Italy Valley Rd, up Italy Turnpike, past Dunn Rd and turn left on Italy Hill, and immediately left again on Pulver Rd. About 2.5 miles up Pulver, there is a parking area. The Tourists then hike north on the abandoned part of Pulver Rd for 0.2 miles and then will turn right into the woods. At 1.5 miles we hike down to the stream and waterfall, then scramble up the other side. At 1.7 miles we will reach the Outback Inn. After a brief rest at the Inn (bring an energy bar since this “Inn” is a carry in/carry out self serve establishment), we will start a long descent to the valley floor.
The Naturalists will carpool with the tourists to Pulver Rd, and will follow them to the waterfall. Turning around at the waterfall will mean a 3.0 mile out and back hike, primarily on flat terrain.
Upon reaching Italy Valley Rd, the Tourists and Climbers will turn right to follow the road back to the cars. We expect there will be enough cars left at the bottom to get everyone back up to the Tourists and Climbers cars at the top in one trip.
Total mileage, according to the FLT map, will be 5 miles for the Climbers, 3.7 miles for the Tourists and less than 3.0 miles for the Naturalists.
Following the hike, an optional social will be at the Neapolitan Pizzeria at 120 North Main Street in Naples, NY.
Directions
From Springwater, Wayland and Dansville: Take NY-15 south to Wayland. Turn left at the light onto NY 21 N. In 6.7 miles turn left to stay on NY-21. At the stop sign in Naples, turn right on NY 53S. In 1.3 miles, turn left onto Italy Valley Rd. In 7.7 miles, just over the bridge, there if parking for the Bristol Hills Branch. Please arrive at 1:45 to give us time to carpool to the top of the hike.
From Honeoye: Take CR 36 (West Lake Rd) into Naples. Turn right on NY 21S and continue straight onto NY 53S. In 1.3 miles, turn left onto Italy Valley Rd. In 7.7 miles, just over the bridge, there if parking for the Bristol Hills Branch. Please arrive at 1:45 to give us time to carpool to the top of the hike.
NOTE: Just a reminder that we will not be hiking next Sunday on Christmas Eve. Join us on New Years Eve for a 2:00pm hike at Harriett Hollister Spencer Park.
We will be hiking from Stevenson Forest Preserve to and thru Robert H. Treman State Park. Distance 8.8 miles (there will be no shorter hike offered). We start the hike along the Stevenson Forest Preserve for about .5 mile and then have an early road walk with an uphill on Porter Hill Road. Overall, we will be going on a descending plane on the hike. Poles are recommended. On the way, we will have an option of going thru the Bock-Harvey Preserve and will pass nearby the Pinecreek Campground. We will enter the State Park at Woodard Road. The trail parallels the Enfield Creek. Please come out and join your fellow hikers to get those legs moving on our spring hike in honor of Wally Wood.
Please check for updates on the FLTC Website.
HIKE LEADERS
Theresa and Jay Evans
MEETING TIME
9:30 a.m. Please try to be there and ready to go at this time
MEETING LOCATION
Parking area on Rt. 13/34/96—918-998 W. Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 – coordinates 42.3982,-76.5426 or N 42.23.8934 W76 32.7699, which is outside of Robert H. Treman State Park (Eastern End) .
DIRECTIONS TO MEETING LOCATION
From Rt. 81 N/S take Exit 12onto Rt 281 to Rt. 13, continuing on thru Dryden, then to Ithaca, NY, Continue on Rt. 13 past entrance to Robert Treman State Park. You then bear to left lane onto Rts. 34/96 and left again (circle around), parking area is the 2nd right (comes up quickly) – Google the FLT interactive map if not familiar with this area.
(NOTE: there will be a car pool shuttle (about 10 minutes) to the start of the hike at Stevenson Forest Preserve (on Trumble Corners Road).
Annually, one of two big shindigs that Victor Hiking Trails (VHT) sponsors, is National Trails Day (NTD) observed each year on the first Saturday of June. In 2018 the date is June 2nd. VHT is of course one of many hiking groups that plans some organized observance on NTD. Yep, that word “national” does in fact imply many groups across the USA observe or celebrate NTD in some manner. Now, before I describe more about NTD activities that VHT hosts, you were wondering what the other big shindig that VHT has annually. Weren’t You? Answer: the second big shindig VHT does is the VHT “challenge hike” usually held sometime around late September.
NTD in Victor with VHT is usually three serial hikes, with a break in between each of the three hikes for rest and refreshment. The first hike is a morning hike and the last hike finishes in the afternoon.
Details for 2018 are: On Saturday, June 2nd, Victor Hiking Trails will host the 26th annual National Trails Day in Victor. Come to Finger Lakes Community College, Victor Campus, located at 200 Victor Heights Parkway, Victor, NY 14564, at 8:30 a.m. for a free continental breakfast. There will be three easy hikes beginning at 9:00 A.M., bottled water and snacks, a free pizza lunch with drinks and raffle prizes. Everyone who completes all three hikes will receive a free one-year membership to Victor Hiking Trails.
You can also read about National Trails Day 2018 in the the VHT newsletter The Pathfinder Spring 2018 edition (volume 23, issue 1, pages 2 & 7). A direct hyperlink to a VHT webpage about NTD 2018 is here. And of course, you can check the VHT website for updated details about VHT’s NTD hike for June 2nd, 2018.
This is a joint trip with the Rochester Mycological Assn & NYFA. We will explore Keshequa Creek with its cliffs and see beautiful large trees. Bring
lunch. Leader: Ed Fuchs, 598-1307, edfuchs.nfbs@gmail.com Call or e-mail Ed for meeting place and time.
The Finger Lakes Trail Conference Spring Weekend is a time when we bring members and guests from across the state together for a 3-day weekend of hikes and programs. It is also the time of the Annual Meeting of the FLTC Membership and Annual Awards Presentation.
Additional information will be posted on the FLTC Website.
Hello, Springwater Trails! Our Vermont Long Trail outing in the Camel’s Hump area begins in a little more than a month. Pam and Bill are looking forward to a stupendous time exploring the Green Mountains, hoping the weather gods smile on us to produce sunny skies, starry nights, and moderate temperatures. While Camel’s Hump’s 4,083′ elevation is not the highest mountain in Vermont, it is the favorite of many (including Bill) because the summit is accessed only by hiking; no roads, gondolas, cable cars etc. are available. Being above treeline, the summit also features rare alpine vegetation.
Here’s what we have at this point in time:
Date deadline – It is essential that Pam and Bill know who and how many are attending along with their skill level (refer to the skill level discussion below). Accordingly if you plan to come and haven’t already registered, please do so by August 1. Registrations after August 1 will not be accepted. For the signup sheet, click here
Facilities – Most of us are planning to camp, and have already made our reservations, at Little River State Park, a few miles from Waterbury. All attendees are responsible for making their own camping arrangements, whether through the reservation system or coordinating with a ST member to share a site. Chances are the campground is fully booked by now. We are allowed to double up on campsites to a maximum of 8 people. However, the person(s) reserving the campsite have the discretion to determine how many more campers can share the site. We’re also limited to 2 cars per site regardless of how many campers share the site. The basic campsite fee covers 4 people. Additional fees are imposed for other campers up to the 8 maximum. For those without campground reservations and are unable to secure a site, accommodations are available in Waterbury or nearby.
Remember that if you registered for a cabin, the facilities are spartan. There is no bathroom inside, no linens for the beds, and hardly any furniture. Plan accordingly.
Keep in mind that aside from the exceptions noted in the “Schedule” below, you are responsible for your own meals. The person(s) who reserved a campsite is not obligated to provide food for the others sharing the site. Of course this does not preclude the site “owner” and fellow campers from working out some arrangements on the meals. For those disinclined to prepare meals, Waterbury offers a variety of restaurants.
Skill levels – As most of you are aware, Springwater Trails recognizes 3 skill levels: Climbers, Tourists, and Naturalists. For the latter two categories, the hikes under consideration thus far are congruous with Springwater Trails outings. In other words, if you hike as a Tourist on ST hikes, you can hike the Tourist hikes in Vermont.
In contrast, the Climbers’ hikes in VT will be substantially more difficult than the average ST hike in 3 respects (1) more miles, (2) greater elevation gain, and (3) rough terrain. For example, the Tuesday hike up Camel’s Hump will entail a 2,000’+ net elevation gain to the summit plus additional ups and downs on the remainder. And the route under consideration – hiking to the Winooski River from Camel’s Hump – will result in a 9 mile day.
So we ask prospective Climbers to honestly assess their capabilities before deciding which hike to take. Furthermore as hike leaders, we reserve the right to approve or disapprove any would-be Climbers who are either new to ST or inactive in the past year. This is out of concern for everyone’s safety.
Schedule – As you’ll note, there are still details to work out, some of which depend on your response to this message, primarily how many are coming and the skill levels. Here’s what we have thus far:
Monday, August 20 – afternoon arrival at Little River State Park, set up camp, and meet at Pam and Bill’s campsite (Elm Leanto) at 6:00 for a potluck dinner. Everyone should bring a dish to share. After the meal, we will review the hiking schedule and arrange car pools. If you choose to not participate in the dinner, you still should come to the meeting afterward at 7:30.
Tuesday, August 21 – Tourists and Climbers, please meet at Pam and Bill’s campsite (Elm Leanto) and be ready to leave the campground by 9:00. Climbers and Tourists will start at the same trailhead at the base of the east side of Camel’s Hump. They’ll hike the same route ( a steady but moderate ascent on the Dean Trail) for about a mile to a junction with the Monroe Trail. At this point, the Tourists will bear left and continue their moderate ascent on the Dean Trail to the ridgeline and the intersection with the Long Trail. The group will then decide whether to hike along the Long Trail, considering time and other factors. The return hike will be down the Dean Trail. Meanwhile, the Climbers will have taken the Monroe Trail (right fork from the junction) to Camel’s Hump Clearing and then up to the summit via the Long Trail. Climbers will descend Camel’s Hump southbound on the Long Trail to the junction with the Dean Trail which they’ll follow to the trailhead.
Naturists will hike to a clothing-optional hot spring. Just kidding, Freudian slip! Naturalists will hike 2 ½ miles on the Long Trail along the Winooski River. The trail is practically flat but there is one shallow ford across a brook. One interesting tidbit about this hike is that the Long Trail crosses the Winooski River on a newly-constructed footbridge. At this point, you’re at the lowest elevation of the entire 272-mile Long Trail at 325′ above sea level. And two of the highest points loom on either side of the river: Camel’s Hump to the south and Mt. Mansfield (VT’s highest summit) to the north.
Tuesday evening, we will gather at a restaurant in Waterbury for a group dinner.
Wednesday, August 22 – Please be ready to leave the campground by 9:00. The exact hikes are yet to be worked out. We have some promising options at other locations, ranging from Mt. Abraham (south) to Mt. Mansfield (north).
Thursday, August 23 – Pack up and return home. Those who wish to stay longer may consult with Bill and Pam on other options.
Other Activities – For those wanting to participate in non-hiking activities, Little River State Park features a lake with concessionaire rentals of canoes and kayaks. The Waterbury and Stowe areas feature numerous tourists attractions. On the culinary front, the home bases of Green Mountain Coffee, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, and Cabot Cheese are nearby. The Von Trapp family estate near Stowe draws many Sound of Music junkies. A simple drive around the VT countryside is a great way to enjoy the scenery of the Green Mountains. Finally, we recommend a visit to the Green Mountain Club’s Headquarters on Rt. 100 between Waterbury and Stowe. The venerable GMC has been the steward of the Long Trail for over 100 years. The HQ features 3-D displays of the Long Trail, historical information, and publications for sale.
Questions? – contact Bill at 802-345-3773 or cookerhiker@msn.com. Feel free to offer suggestions and advice as well. We’ll listen! Looking forward to seeing everyone!
What better way to kick off the New Year than by getting a jump start torching off those holiday calories in the great outdoors. Springwater Trails is leading one of the dozens of sponsored hikes held each New Year’s Day on public lands across the Empire State.
Local volunteers and staff from DEC and State Parks will be leading family-friendly walks and hikes. The hikes range from one to five miles depending on the location and conditions. Check out the great hikes available.
Our hike will be along Canadice lake. The trail will be easy to moderate difficulty. There are approximately 14 miles of marked hiking trails on Hemlock-Canadice State Forest. The trip length will be family-friendly and determined by participants.
Please dress appropriately for the weather. Bring snowshoes if there is snow. Bring hiking poles, wear good boots and carry water with you.
Directions: v Springwater: Head north on NY-15A. In 7.6 miles, turn right into Purcell Hill Rd. Go up and over the hill (1.2 miles). At the bottom but before the lake, the parking is on the right.
From Rochester and Hemlock: head south on Ny-15A. Go through Hemlock NY. In 3.5 miles, turn left onto Purcell Hill Rd. Go up and over the hill (1.2 miles). At the bottom but before the lake, the parking is on the right.
Webinar: Tuesday July 16 2019 at 12:00 Noon
Speaker: Dr. Lori Spears, USU Assistant Professor
Date: Tuesday, July 16, 12:00 pm (MDT) – Please ignore the date in the title; it is an unavoidable posting date and NOT the date of the webinar!
The spotted lanternfly has been identified as a nasty invasive insect that is busy killing trees in Pennsylvania. The forestry and university authorities in PA have launched a series of webinars aimed at educating hikers such as ourselves in identifying and reporting these marauders. There’s is one coming up on 16th July; you are invited to join in from the comfort of your own home – we may be able to help limit this beast in New York.
Spotted lanternfly is an invasive planthopper that is native to parts of Asia and was first detected in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014. Spotted lanternflies feed on a wide range of host plants, including grapes, fruit trees, hops, and hardwood ornamental trees. This presentation will cover the biology, identification, and possible control options for spotted lanternfly and other invasive landscape tree pests, such as emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle.
Lori is the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program Coordinator at Utah State University. The CAPS Program is a federal program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), and whose goal is to protect U.S. agriculture from introductions of high risk invasive pests by conducting early detection surveys and providing outreach and education programs that support and enhance efforts to prevent new exotic pest entry and establishment. Her research and outreach programs have focused on the ecology and management of invasive insects and using bycatch from early detection surveys to learn more about beneficial insects, such as pollinators and lady beetles. Lori received a PhD in Ecology from Utah State University in 2012.
Co-sponsored by Utah State University Integrated Pest Management Group
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Volunteers Needed for Invasive Species Restoration Team!
Cumming Nature Center is seeking volunteers to help restore its nature preserve in Naples, NY, this summer, with a kickoff event during Invasive Species Awareness Week! Join us on Thursday, July 11, 2019, from 9 am to 2 pm, to help remove Japanese Barberry! Please contact Cumming Nature Center at (585) 374-6160 to sign up or for more information! Cumming Nature Center is located at 6472 Gulick Road, Naples, NY.
Cumming Nature Center seeks large and small groups, as well as individuals, to help remove Japanese barberry infestations so that we can seed native plants, restore native habitats for wildlife, and protect the surrounding Honeoye Lake watershed. Japanese barberry is an invasive shrub which is spreading throughout our Naples preserve, harming and eliminating our native habitats. We welcome everyone to come join our ongoing Restoration Team!
Please wear long work pants, long sleeves, socks, and boots or work shoes, since removing Japanese barberry is somewhat like working with rose bushes. And bring a water bottle and lunch! Cumming Nature Center will provide directions, equipment, and protective gloves and gear, so that we can work efficiently to combat this invader! CNC will have water available and provide light refreshments after..
Can’t make this event? Further invasive removal events at Cumming Nature Center are listed below:
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Sunday, August 11, 2019
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Saturday, November 2, 2019
— Cumming Nature Center
See hike description at https://www.fllt.org/events/30-for-30-anniversary-hike-at-the-wesley-hill-nature-preserve Event includes a dish-to-pass
get-together with grill at the end of the hike.
Looking for brochure.or mailing list so I can receive it in the mail.
Nothing opens up for mailing list.
There’s all kinds of very bizarre ads and post for viagra and other drugs above on calender page.
Please let me know if there’s a brochure available