A Through-Hike of the Colorado Trail

The Little Lakes Sustainability Network and Springwater Trails are pleased to co-host a program on the magnificent Colorado Trail on Thursday, October 27, 7:00 PM at the Jack Evans Community Center (old Hemlock school) on Main Street in Hemlock. Light refreshments will be provided and everyone is welcome, free of charge. Donations to defray costs are encouraged.

Hemlock resident Bill Cooke will present information about the trail followed by a 25 minute slide show with music showing photos from his 2011 “through-hike.” He will share his deep appreciation of the natural environment fostered from many years of experience in long-distance hiking.  Bill will also have copies of his book narrating the hike – Shades of Gray, Splashes of Color – A Thru-hike of The Colorado Trail – available for your perusal and purchase.

The 486-mile Colorado Trail wends its way through the Rocky Mountains of the Centennial State, traversing a landscape as changing and diverse as the swirling afternoon clouds presaging the daily summer thunderstorms.  A common expression among long distance backpackers is “no pain equals no gain.”  In this program, you’ll hear of the “pain” manifested in the struggle of acclimating to high elevations, of hiking long and steep ascents, of coping with a wide range of climatic conditions from freezing cold mornings to hot baking afternoons, to near daily thunderstorms and to long stretches of limited water.  And you’ll see the “gains,” the triumphs as Bill and his hiking companion Keith “Northern Harrier” Bance savor the many rewards of this enchanting trail:  alpine meadows whose wildflowers cover every range of the spectrum, bewitching groves of aspen trees resplendent with the morning glow of the sun, the glistening of snowy peaks, stately conifers including the massive Douglas firs, high mountain passes, dry foothills, sparkling mountain streams, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets where both the skies and the rocks shine like beacons from the low sun alpenglow, and much more.

Along the way, you’ll hear of the delight bestowed by such simple pleasures as a refreshing swig of Rocky Mountain water or a wildlife spotting.  You’ll hear of fascinating near-daily cloud formations with their myriad shades of gray and ever-changing patterns.  You’ll meet “Trail Angels” who emerge at the right place and time, unplanned and unexpected, to assist hikers with their basic needs, such as rides into towns for re-supplying or offers of water and snacks.  And you’ll visit communities along the trail corridor, meeting the people in them, and enjoying the amenities that we all take for granted, such a hot shower, bed with linens, and meals of “real” food, all of which are especially appreciated by hot, dusty hikers.

Bill Cooke recently moved to Hemlock after living for seven years in Lexington, KY.  He has backpacked for nearly 40 years.  In addition to the Colorado Trail, he has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, Vermont’s Long Trail, the Black Forest and Susquehannock Trails of nearby Northern Pennsylvania, and other trails around the country.

You need not be an experienced hiker to enjoy this program, as Bill explains much of the terminology and peculiar habits of long-distance backpackers.  Even those whose experience is confined to short strolls in the park will sense the challenges and the rewards of a trek in the Rocky Mountains.  Come and take a trip to the summertime Rockies!

The event is co-sponsored by the Little Lakes Sustainability Network and the Springwater Hiking Group, and is free and open to the public.

Volunteers from Springwater Trails are needed to pick up roadside litter along NY Rtes 15 and 15A in the Town of Springwater.   There will be a short information meeting at the Springwater Fire Hall parking lot at 9AM on Tuesday November 1, 2016 prior to getting started.   Bags, safety vests and hard hats will be provided.

Springwater Trails is relaxing after a busy 2016.

Please join the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park on New Years Day for a hike on the Greenway.  Or, check the rest of the calendar for organized hikes near Springwater.

For those Springwater Trails hikers who revel in hiking Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area (HHSSRA aka HHSMRA where M is Memorial) with snow, well the ST hike on Sunday 1/22/2017 did not support that as the ground was devoid of the white stuff.  But then it snowed on Tuesday 1/24/2017 and is predicted to do so again before Saturday 1/28/2017.  Which leads me to citing a second chance for participation in a group hike where perhaps there may be snow, albeit this one on Saturday 1/28/2017 a mere 6 days since ST Sunday 1/22/2017 hike.

This hike is a scheduled hike on the Genesee Valley Hiking Club (GVHC aka GVHG where G is Group) hike schedule, and Ryan B. is the Hike Leader (& Planner).  Some ST hikers are acquainted with Ryan as result of his hike leads and shared hiking enthusiasm.

The salient info for this hike is below in quotes, from the GVHC website.  Hike start time is 10:00AM, likely most folks from ST will not benefit from use of the 9AM carpool as it is in Bushnell’s Basin.  Please know that there are no dogs allowed on this or any other GVHC hike.

“January 28/Saturday  Strenuous/hilly 6-7 mile hike. Harriet Hollister Spencer Memorial Recreation Area. Meet at Bushnell’s Basin Park & Ride at 9 a.m. Hike starts at 10 a.m. at Harriet Hollister. Ryan B. 802-999-8554 #6016″

( #6016 is the GVHC assigned sequential hike number for this hike.)

Rules for hikers on GVHC hikes are much the same as are rules for ST hikes, with the most glaring contrast perhaps being the no dogs rule.  Please note the 12:30PM hike end time listed in this ST post is a mere guesstimate.

Of course, no guarantee that there will be snowpack on Saturday, and if not, well,  no blamin’ the local meteriologist or weather-person. The adage … any hike is a good hike.

– – – And regardless of snow or not, Traction Devices (TDs) may be in order as trails can be icy even if there is no snow.   There was a comment for the Sunday 1/22/2017 ST hike that trails were in fact icy!

Directions to the hike:

From Springwater:  From 1 mile north of Springwater on  Rt. 15A, turn right onto (and up) Wheaton Hill Rd. Drive all the way to Wetmore Rd. and turn left. Continue straight onto Canadice Hill Rd. and drive another 2 miles to the HHSSRA entrance road parking lot on the right.

From Honeoye: Take County Road 37 and continue straight onto Canadice Hill Rd. to the HHSSRA entrance road parking lot on the left

Note: The entrance road parking lot is siutate at Canadice Hill Rd & the entrance road (aka Overlook Rd) .  This time of year the entrance road (aka Overlook Rd) may be gated to restrict “road vehicle” access past the entrance road parking lot.  Regardless (gated or not), the hike meet point & start point is at the entrance road parking lot (Canadice Hill Rd & Overlook Rd), not the entrance road terminus which is much further “inside  HHSSRA”.