Agenda

• Approve minutes – Katherine
• Treasurer’s report – Melissa
• Committee Reports
  • Trail Maintenance – Gene
  • Advertising – Katherine
    • Brochure – First Draft – Mark
    • Rack Card – First Draft
  • Trail Building – Rick
    • Sugarbush Hollow to Pardy Hollow
  • Hiking Group – Wendy
  • New Business
    • Fiddler’s Fair – Parking
      • Chairman
      • Signup Sheet
    • Bicentennial
      • Our role
      • Bicentennial committee communications

— Please note that Saturday, September 5th, 2015 is Labor Day holiday weekend. —

Perhaps you have an interest in hiking the Bare Hill State Unique Area (SUA), as Springwater Trails has not yet hiked this area.  And perhaps you have an interest in the annual Bare Hill Ceremonial Fire.  Well, if either be the case, you have an option to hike with Victor Hiking Trails (VHT) at Bare Hill SUA on Saturday, Sept 5th, 2015 in the evening. This evening hike starts during daylight hours, and will finish after dark!

⇒ Hike Meet Time and Locale:  Approximately 6:15-6:30PM at the cul-de-sac (deadend) of Van Epps Rd (which is very near the Bare Hill trailhead).

Arrangements of a VHT arranged carpool, are:   VHT designated Carpool will form behind Victor Town Hall, located at 85 East Main Street in Victor,NY (GPS = 42.9821448,-77.4087837 ), with intended leave time of 5:30PM on Saturday 9/5/2015.  PLEASE NOTE, THE 5:30PM TIME IS FOR THE CARPOOL IN VICTOR!!  THERE IS AN ETA OF 6:15PM-6:30PM AT THE VAN EPPS RD CUL-DE-SAC PARKING AREA. (The cul-de-sac is adjacent the gated haul road and trailhead that lead to the top of Bare Hill).  Please note, further down in this hike event announcement are carpool arrangements for Springwater & Naples environs S/T area hikers.

Part parcel of this hike event is supper, ceremonial festivities including viewing lighting of the annual Bare Hill Ceremonial Fire, and viewing of the annual Canandaigua Lake Ring of Fire.

Lay of the land:  Bare Hill, lands publicly owned and held as a NYSDEC State Unique Area (in the nw quadrant of the Town of Middlesex, Yates County), is situate off the eastern side of Canandaigua Lake (about 2/3rds down the distance of the lake from the northern end), and is situate high atop a hill between the lake and NYS Rt 364. Note – because much of the hills’ elevation is reached when driving uphill on roads to reach the trailhead, the trails themselves do not have any steep ascent/decent but are gradual in elevation change and hold relatively little elevation gain/loss.

⇒ Hike Routing and Groups: More adventurous hikers (suitable for S/T Climbers) on this guided hike will hike to Bare Hill via a herd trail (as some would say “rough it”), while the more tame routing (suitable for S/T Naturalists) will be on the haul road which is essentially an old farm road.  Many years ago Bare Hill was farmed as pasture lands.  Hike distance is suitable for S/T Naturalists.   The return hike off Bare Hill will be after sunset, so BRING A FLASHLIGHT OR HEADLAMP for this part of the hike.

⇒ Supper and other details:  What’s for supper while on Bare Hill? is up to the individuals who show up.  Bring what you like, and if you wish to bring enough for sharing that’s fine too.  Don’t forget a beverage, and bring something to sit on as this is a gathering (not just a hike).  There are no picnic tables or facilities of any type here.  Bare in mind (pun intended) this is a VHT planned hike, not a S/T planned hike, so some facets may be a bit different than S/T hikers are used to.   ΟΟ Roll with it, please. ΟO

Of note, a Labor Day weekend Saturday evening Ring of Fire hike on Bare Hill has been on a “hike to do list” for S/T for well over 1-2 years, and being that one of our sister hiking groups facilitated the planning of a hike much as was envisioned for S/T, “seize the opportunity” to join for this hike seemed to be a logical thing to do.

Please consult the VHT website for further details and updates, and/or check the VHT message line for updates (585)-234-8226.

All are welcome to hike with VHT (with no VHT membership required and with no fee, much the same as S/T hikes are set-up). Should you and any other S/T hikers decide to join VHT for this hike and as result gain some expertise in the area, perhaps in the future you could lead a S/T hike at Bare Hill.  Something to consider for sharing with fellow  hikers.  In fact three S/T hikers already have hiked Bare Hill with an eye toward a future S/T hike here.

What vista views will I see while on Bare Hill, you ask?  Well, from the summit of Bare Hill looking directly across the lake (westward), lakeside for the south to the north will be Hicks Point, Seneca Point, Bristol Harbour Marina and Resort.  And higher up from the shoreline directly across the lake, the ridge you will be looking at is the east side of Stid Hill (approximately the northern area of the southern NYS DEC Stid Hill parcel) .  You will see part of one or more of: Hicks Rd, NYS Rt 21, Bills Rd, Stid Hill Rd.    No, you can not see Bristol Mountain Ski Resort even though it is on a westerly line from Bare Hill, because it is on the next hill to the west of Stid Hill and thus is out of view.  (But, maybe at night in season when Bristol Mtn Ski Resort is ablaze with lights you might see the glow of the lights.)  One other view from a trail on Bare Hill a distance away from the summit affords a view looking to the northwest diagonally across Canandaigua Lake. This one is left totally up to you to identify landmarks, albeit one note – possibility that in the distance you may be able to see Fort Hill in Victor near Ganondagan (distance viewing oculars of some variety will be helpful for this one).

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⇒ Driving Directions:   For those who wish to drive directly to the trailhead of Bare Hill SUA, and not carpool in either the VHT or S/T arranged carpools :  The trailhead is directly adjacent the cul-de-sac of Van Epps Road.  The cul-de-sac is utilized as a parking area.  Given sufficient number of vehicles that may converge on the area for a hike to the “ceremonial fire event” some parking may also be necessitated along the shoulder of Van Epps Rd.

Van Epps Rd runs west off Bare Hill Rd.  Bare Hill Rd can be accessed via Town Line Rd at the northern end, and via Co Rd 10 (aka N Vine Valley Rd) at the southern end.   Both these roads run westerly off NYS Rt 364.   {In reaching Bare Hill expect most roadways to be paved, but expect gravel surface (dirt road) on Van Van Epps Rd.}

For those drivers who do not do well with compass directions for routing and turns:   From the north (Canandaigua & environs) on NYS RT 364 as you are heading southbound, turn R onto Townline Rd, turn L onto Bare Hill Rd, & turn R onto Van Epps Rd.   From Springwater area.  S on 15 to Wayland, N on 21 thru Naples. R on 245 to Middlesex, L on 364.  On NYS RT 364 as you are heading northbound, turn L onto Co Rd 10 (aka N Vine Valley Rd).  Be careful not to make this left on S. Vine Valley Rd., which comes first. Turn R onto Bare Hill Rd, & turn L onto Van Epps Rd.   >>>The trailhead parking area is at the cul-de-sac (deadend) of Van Epps Rd.

{For edifice history appreciators, and as point of reference, the historic red brick one room schoolhouse “Overakers Corners Schoolhouse”, located in the Town of Middlesex, Yates County, is situate on the NW corner of NYS Rt 364 & Co Rd 10 (aka N Vine Valley Rd). The schoolhouse has now been restored for utilization as a heritage museum, albeit admission dates and times are very limited.}

⇒ Carpool arrangements for Springwater & Naples environs, as arranged by S/T hiking folks:  This is a progressive carpool, Wayland carpoolers will stop at Naples carpool locale to coalesce a larger carpool and then ultimately head to Bare Hill.

Wayland – Large parking lot behind fire station.  From Springwater, R at light in Wayland.  Entrance is on right, right after 7-11.  Departure time 5 PM.

Naples – Parking lot behind Bob and Ruth’s, N of town.  Departure time 5:30 PM.  Meet and join hikers from Victor at Bare Hill lot.  We’ll probably arrive there before them because if we arrive after, they won’t wait for us.

(Directional Travel Note: It is not difficult to lose your trail of bread crumbs in this remote hilly & windy road area off NYS Rt 364.  So a suggestion, … pay attention to directions and turns, and keep conversing in the vehicle to a minimum once you have turned off NYS Rt 364 and start the hilly and sometimes winding ascent, and be aware there are “blind areas” that come up quickly as result of hills in the road.  The same advice goes for the return trip out to NYS Rt 364.  Note: There really are not many wrong turns that you can make before eventually getting back to NYS Rt 364, so do not fret too much about losing your way, but paying attention when driving in this area definitely can cut down on uncertainty, as can keeping your speed down to increase time for reaction to road changes.  A detailed map of the area and a good (human) navigator is helpful, as well.

GPS Coords:  Van Epps Rd cul-de-sac parking area: Lat/Long coordinates are: 42.746746, -77.302622  This is in the nw quadrant of the Town of Middlesex, Yates County.  ( It is possible if using a GPS unit for directions, you may not want to blindly follow the GPS unit.  You should have some semblance of where you are going, in case your GPS Unit is “confused” in this area (“confused” is to be read as “possibly unreliable in this area”.  Thus, this GPS directional aid section is placed nearly at the bottom of this hike event announcement.)

√ Hike Checklist:  beverage, supper, something to sit on, flashlight, warmer clothing to don after sunset, perhaps distance viewing oculars, perhaps a map to determine what you are looking at in the vistas, perhaps a backpack to carry the aforementioned items.

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[ Also of note – other upcoming VHT hikes of interest to some area hikers:  Saturday, October 10th, 2015 (Columbus Day holiday weekend) is a VHT hike at Keuka Lake Outlet Trail (Penn Yan to Dresden).  Saturday November 14, 2015 is a VHT hike at Boughton Park (this one is figuratively if not literally in VHT’s “back yard”); and Saturday, December 12, 2015  is a VHT hike at Ontario County Park’s new north trails (this one in S/T home range).  All three of these hikes meet for carpool at 9:00AM Saturday morning at Victor Town Hall (rear) parking lot.    VHT Message Line , phone (585)-234-8226 includes info about the next upcoming VHT hike.  note: 234 phone number exchange is a Rochester area exchange. ]

Kristi Krumrine, Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, SUNY Geneseo and St John Fisher College will share the finding of the former home-site excavation on Hemlock Lake this summer.  She is looking forward to meeting with us and to hear what additional information we can provide about the area.

Join the Springwater / Webster Crossing Historical Society on Tuesday, Sept 8th, 2015 at the Springwater American Legion for a dish-to-pass dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7:15 p.m.

The Historical Society programs are free and open to the public.  Donations for the support of the Society are welcome.

Please note that Saturday, October 10th, 2015 is Columbus Day holiday weekend.

• UPDATE: Change in plans for a second year in a row.  Since the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail is in need or reparations due to flooding, VHT has changed plans and will not lead an October hike there this year.  Instead, the October VHT guided hike will be on the BHB-FLT in Prattsburgh.  Meet at Victor Town Hall at 9AM, or at the trail in Prattsburg at 10AM.  For more info consult the VHT website.

Carpool will form behind Victor Town Hall, located at 60 East Main Street in Victor,NY (GPS = 42.9821448,-77.4087837 ), with intended leave time of 9:00AM on Saturday 10/10/2015.

VHT, in The Pathfinder Fall 2015 edition newsletter on page 4, provided the following info for meeting in Prattsburgh:   VHT will be hiking the south end of this section of trail. Fall colors should be near peak. Expect some hilly terrain with plenty of rest stops for water. Looking at 7 to 8 miles of hiking. If you are coming from the south  (or elsewhere in the area), you can meet the group in Prattsburg on Route 53, in front of the Prattsburg Market Place, 2 S. Main St, Prattsburgh, NY 14873 at 10 A.M.. We should return to Victor between 3:30 and 4:30 P.M. Please consult the VHT website for further details and updates.

Some S/T hikers may want to take this opportunity to hike and learn about this southern section of the BHB-FLT with a group of hikers like-minded to S/T.

Previously scheduled but now cancelled – Perhaps you have an interest in hiking the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, but that may be seen as a bit far for S/T to plan a hike.  Well, here is a VHT hike on the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, on Oct 10th, 2015.

(This Keuka Lake Outlet Trail hike had been scheduled for 2014, but had to be cancelled because parts of the trail washed out, due to the May 2014 severe rainstorm with torrents of rain in the Keuka Lake area causing floods.)

Also of note, Saturday November 14, 2015 is a VHT Boughton Park hike (this one is in VHT home range); and Saturday, December 12, 2015  is a VHT hike at Ontario County Park’s new north trails    VHT Message Line , phone (585)-234-8226 includes info about the next hike.

This is a Springwater Trails combo hike event, scheduled for Sunday, October 18, 2015 in Avon, consisting of: a 2:00PM Program (optional) ; a 3:30PM hike on the Erie-Attica Trail & the Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) trail, with varied hike routing distances provided for various groups of hikers depending on ability & interest; and a 5:45PM after-hike social (optional).

Historical note: “Opera Houses”  (not to be confused with Grand Opera Houses) often were built in rural areas of the USA, many built in the 19th century (from the 1860s on), became popular community gathering places utilized for purpose of entertainment (complete with a stage), yep, theatrical performances, Vaudeville, minstrel shows, traveling Opera, and more, dances, lectures, political meetings, and school graduations & such; and most were considered places relatively accessible to rural sparsely populated locales far from city centers of population yet closer to small rural communities. Some were built in combination as a civic or government building.  Most often an Opera House of rural America would be located in a community with proximity to railroad service which was a leading transportation mode of the time when Opera Houses were in vogue and most utilized.  Some Opera Houses still exist today, and some are still vibrant, others are once again “found”, and some on the rejuvenation rise.  Some were built questionably in design and ultimately were lacking in egress and safety features, some succumbed to fire, some were closed due to occupancy and safety codes that evolved, and some deteriorated over time.  Whether utilized today, standing neglected, or gone from the landscape, Opera Houses made a mark in the USA.

				Erie Attica Trail | New York Trails | TrailLink.com
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Erie Attica Trail 2

				Erie Attica Trail 2 Use a smartphone or GPS device to navigate to the provided coordinates. Look for a regular hidden container. When you find it, write your name and date i…
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One geocache on the south side of the Erie Attica trail, cited here.   http://www.geocaching.com/seek/gallery.aspx?guid=cbd7a212-01a4-42fb-a3ee-f47eaca650a9   (send in the kids!)

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notes from an internet search, albeit not sure this info is totally up to date.

 

Genesee Greenway Trail and Erie-Attica Trail  
2419 Avon-Geneseo Road
Avon 14414
585 226-8210 (Fairview Golf Course)  – so this phone number is either obsolete or was originally incorrect
www.fogvg.org

Avon Driving Park 
Spring Street 
Avon 14414 
585 226-8118 (Village of Avon)
“baseball fields, basketball court, volleyball court, ice skating rink, play area, gazebo, picnic pavilions”  (there is a north picnic pavilion and a south picnic pavilion)

http://www.fltconference.org/trail/whats-happening/hike-programs/passport/

FLT Conference :: FLT Passport Program

				FLT Conference :: FLT Passport Program Home > What’s Happening > Hiking Programs > FLT Passport Program
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December 12— Ontario County Park, north trails. The mountain bike club GROC has created several miles of new trails at the north end of the park. We will be hiking (or skiing if there is snow) these trails from 10:00 A.M. until noon. For those that want, we will stop for lunch at the Brown Hound Bistro in South Bristol for lunch.

Please check the message line at 585-234-8226 for details and last minutes updates.

Gleaned from the Victor Hiking Trails (VHT) Website & page 4 of the VHT Pathfinder- Fall 2015 newsletter, Vol 20 issue 3, pages 2&4,  the December VHT hike is as listed above.

VHT guided hikes are scheduled the 2nd Saturday of most every month, as is the above hike.  Hikes are open to all, no membership or fee required to participate.  This hike locale has been a popular locale with S/T hikers, and is relatively close to some.  So, the hike is posted in view of possible participation of some S/T hikers.

Page 5 of the same VHT Pathfinder lists info about the Nov 28&29 Santa Train in the Village of Victor, by www.friendsoftherailroad.org

Volunteers are needed to assist in picking up roadside litter along a stretch of highway in the Town of Springwater that Springwater Trails is in the process of adopting.  We will meet at the Fire Hall parking lot at 9AM for a mandatory safety briefing presented by NYS DOT.  They will provide the required hard hats and safety vests. You will want to bring gloves.  NYS DOT will also provide the collection bags and pick up.  The plan is to work from 9AM-12PM, lunch at Sammy’s, and (if needed) work from 1PM-4PM.   Ask your friends to join us.  So NYS DOT can be given an approximate number of participants, please let Wendy know if you plan on helping out – wsteven@frontiernet.net .

Please Note!!  This is a schedule change from the original Springwater Trails – Spring 2016 Hike Schedule Brochure for Sunday, April 24, 2016.  (The original hike locale was Keuka Lake Outlet Trail which will be rescheduled for a later date.)

• Please note: This is a rather long Hike Announcement – so you’ll want to “click on” (mouse left-click) the title so you can view the hike announcement in full page width for easier reading and overview.  A “quick reference” of event timing is included for synopsis convenience.

QUICK REFERENCE for this Sunday, April 24th, 2016 hike combo event:

2:00PM in Avon @ 23 Genesee St (Avon Opera Block), 2nd floor meeting room – history presentation on the GVC. ~GPS coordinates: 42.911676 , -77.746490 (basicallysituate alongside the Village of Avon traffic circle, Rts 5&20 navigate as part of the circle, and Genesee St runs off the circle)

~3:15PM @ “Hike Meet Locale“ (but not the hike start point) for this GVG hike is at Berry’s Park on Rts 5&20 (West Main St, Avon) situate along the east side of Genesee River .  ~GPS coordinates:  42.917666, -77.756808  (Berry’s Park is situate on Rts 5&20 directly opposite jct with Farmers Rd, also described as situate ~6/10ths of a mile west of the Village of Avon traffic circle)

~5:30PM “Hike End Point“ @ approx address of 101 River Rd (Caledonia) in small access parking lot for LVT access trail ~GPS coordinates: 42.983157 , -77.743363  (reference point of this parking lot, it is immediately north of the large driveway for Centerpoint Transfer Station Inc., 119 River Rd).

~5:30 – 5:45PM or so, is gathering time for an “After-hike Social” at Avon Driving Park at the end of Spring St in Avon.  Bring a dish to pass and your own beverage or make a suggested $5 contribution to the Social Fund. Avon Driving Park is a tobacco and alcohol free zone.

Click here for driving direction to all locations.

Value Added History Presentation at 2:00PM, followed by a hike

The Springwater Trails hike for Sunday, April 24th, 2016 is scheduled on the Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) in the area just west of Avon NY (northern Livingston County).  This is a “value added” hike combo event.  At 2:00PM organized by the Avon Preservation and Historical Society (APHS) there will be an ~ hour long program presented by Historian and history author Tom S. Cook, … program presentation topic is history of the Genesee Valley Canal, quite apropos for a paired GVG hike.  This free program presentation will take place in the second floor meeting room of the Avon Opera Block building, 23 Genesee St., located in the Village of Avon, Livingston County.  (For point of reference: The Avon Opera Block situate on the west side of Genesee St, is just off the west/southwest edge of the traffic circle, and said traffic circle is variably referred to as Circle Park aka Village Green / Village Green Park in the Village of Avon.  Routes 5&20 flow through the traffic circle.)  A webpage on the APHS website will inform you further about this presentation  http://www.avonpreservation.org/events/  -or-   http://www.avonpreservation.org/events/2016/4/24/the-genesee-valley-canal

~GPS coordinates for 23 Genesee St (Avon Opera Block) 42.911676 , -77.746490     *Please Note: The Avon Opera Block 2nd floor meeting room is a handicapped accessible facility.

Immediately following the presentation light refreshments are served by APHS folks, so hikers attending the presentation may quickly avail themselves of such and perhaps some brief conversation before making it to the nearby hike locale.    The APHS program and refreshments are free (as is the Springwater Trails scheduled hike), donations to the APHS are welcome. Some APHS published materials and other Livingston County area history publications may be available for sale before and after the presentation, this includes some books authored by Tom S. Cook.

Please note: the APHS Programs are a popular series, and so you may have to hunt a bit for a parking space.  Especially if you arrive just before the program starts, you may not be able to park right in front of the Avon Opera Block.

The Hike starts at ~ 3:15pm (optimistically stated) or so

This week’s Springwater Trails hike will be a Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) hike, variably utilizing miles 12 thru 17, all of which are in the Town of Caledonia, NY.  Caledonia is the town immediately to the west of the Town of Avon. (By-the-way, the Village of Avon is wholly located within the Town of Avon.)   Towns of Avon & Caledonia share common border of the Genesee River, and both these Livingston County towns situate in the northern section of the county also border with Monroe County to the north.

Hike start time is approximately between 3:15 & 3:30pm, allowing to be sure all those who attended the GVC history presentation have made it to the “hike meet locale”.  Hike Leaders will make the call as to when all have arrived, based on faces they saw at the APHS sponsored GVC history presentation.  Hike duration will be approximately 2 hours.

Hike distances will vary for the four groups planned for: Climbers ~5 miles, Tourists ~3+ miles, Naturalists and Flatlanders ~less than two miles.  Hike Terrain is nearly all flat, as the majority of the hike routings traverse a former canal and railroad route, albeit there is a slope downward from River Rd access parking lot of the LVT access trail to the GVG & LVT trails alongside the river (and slope upward when traversing back to the parking lot).  Naturalists and Flatlanders routings are substantially seasoned stone-dust surface, and so are by design accessible to mobility limited hikers (inclusive of wheelchair hikers).  Much of the GVG surface itself is design of a grassy laneway (a grassy median separating two tire trackings) and could further be described as substantially grass variably mixed with segments of stone dust, cinder, gravel, crushed stone, and earth.

— SOME ADDITIONAL GVG INFO AND HIKE INFO —

For those unaware, the GVG, which a few years ago became a linear NYS park (aptly named “Genesee Valley Greenway State Park” aka GVGSP, but  still referred to as GVG in short), approximately follows the routing of the former Genesee Valley Canal (~1840-1878) and the GVCRR and successor railroads ~1882-1970s).

The GVG multiple-use trail has it’s existence greatly owed to the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG), and the FOGVG continues efforts on the GVG to this day.  Additionally, NYSDEC and many other supporters helped make the trail what it is today with involvement well before it became a NYS Park.

Springwater Trails, over time, has held a number of different hikes on the GVG and one on Nov 1st 2015 was in concert with the FOGVG group’s planned hike (in the Cuylerville area) and the FOGVG annual meeting.

History of the former GVC & GVCRR corridor will not only come to light at Tom Cook’s presentation about the GVC, but also as you hike the GVG.

Of note: There is a Wegman’s “Passport to Family Wellness” booklet specifically for the GVGSP and which covers numerous hikes on the GVGSP; and the “rubbing post” of Wegman’s hike #4 is located at the jct of the GVGSP & the Lehigh Valley Trail.  Yes, hikers in all hiking groups today will have access to rubbing post #4.  Please note, the section of the GVG we’ll be hiking extends southward from rubbing pole #4 ( whereas Wegman’s hike #4 utilizes the GVG trail northward from rubbing pole #4).  So bring your GVGSP Wegman’s Passport to Family Wellness booklet to make a rubbing at post #4 if you’d like (you’ll also need a pencil or crayon to make the rubbing).  Some booklets may be available to hand out to hikers who do not already have a booklet, for those interested in the Wegman’s Passport “rubbing” collection and redemption program.  Rubbing Post #4 ~ coordinates:  42.984585 , -77.732762  for all you GPS folks.

Hike Meet Locale – Berry’s Park in Avon, NY ( ~ GPS coordinates:  42.917666, -77.756808 )

Please note this is NOT the hike trailhead (aka hike start point).  “Hike Meet Locale” , Berry’s Park, is ~ 6/10ths of a mile west of the Avon traffic circle on Routes 5&20 aka West Main St. (Berry’s Park can also be described as directly opposite Farmers Rd which runs north of Rts 5&20.)  Hike meet locale is in the parking lot on U.S. Rt 20/NYS Rt 5 situate at the southeast corner jct with the Genesee River ~GPS coordinates for Berry’s Park parking lot: 42.917666, -77.756808 .  This meet locale is at a NYSDEC fishing access site parking lot variably referred to as Berry Park or Berry’s Park (a pocket park), and you’ll find a NYS blue and gold historic sign about “Berry’s Tavern” alongside the parking lot. (By-the-way, not only is this a fishing access site, but it is also apropos as a kayak access site, so kayakers and hikers too, take note and impetus.)   In this parking lot, chosen as meet locale due to it’s ample size, we will form hiking groups and determine what cars will go where enabling ease of utilizing two separate hike start points (one for Climbers, and another for Tourists/Naturalists/Flatlanders).

Hike Logistics for vehicles and various hiking groups

Routing/Logistics:  There are two separate hike start points for today’s GVG hike; one start point for Climbers, and a separate start point for Tourists/ Naturalists/ Flatlanders.  Basically, Tourists/ Naturalists/ Flatlanders will be driving and drop Climbers at one start point and then will drive further to their own start point.

Climbers will hike ~ 5 miles, a linear one-way principally south-to-north hike via: ~4 or so miles northward on the GVG from start point (trail head) at NYS Rt 5, to the jct of the LVT & LVT Access Trail (in railroad days dubbed “Wadsworth Junction”) and then head westward on the LVT access trail to the LVT access trail parking lot situate on River Rd.

Before heading west to the parking lot, please note while at the GVG/LVT trail jct, Climbers will be able to view the “wow factor” of the remains of the LVRR bridge which crosses the Genesee River.  Of note, the lower remains of this bridge are now used as the designated trail crossing the river – a connection from the start of the LVT (“mile 0” of the Monroe County linear park named LVT) as the LVT heads eastward, connecting to the LVT access trail that heads westward to the parking lot on River Rd.  At “Wadsworth Junction” Climbers can explore the area as time may allow, before the remaining short trek to the parking lot where Tourists/Naturalists/Flatlanders have parked vehicles.

– – – Climbers – Logistics note, there is no parking area on NYS Rt 5 for the GVG, so Climbers will be dropped off at the trailhead by Tourists/Naturalists/Flatlanders. Please note: at end of the hike Climbers will be shuttling back to Berry’s Park parking lot in Avon (which was the “hike meet locale”) with the Tourists/Naturalists/Flatlanders. – – –

Climbers more detailed hike info – Along the approx. 4 miles on the GVG (which here is principally north-south traversing), Climbers will pass the Erie-Attica Trail (EAT) jct, and further north pass some non-designated trail junctions (farm roads & driveways), and then ~ 1/3 mile south of milepost 13 will pass bridge abutments for a former east-west traversing railroad (the “Peanut Line of NYCRR). When essentially reaching the jct with the Lehigh Valley Trail (LVT) that heads eastward from the Genesee River and the LVT access trail (also referred to as the LVT extension) that heads westward from the river & GVG and leads to River Rd LVT access trail parking lot, Climbers ultimately will head westward to that parking lot.

Tourists, Naturalists, and Flatlanders  from the Berry’s Park “hike meet locale” will drive westward on Rts 5&20 (crossing the Genesee River and soon passing the bifurcation of US Rt 20 which is to the left and slightly to the south, while Rt 5 is basically straight with a sweeping curve slightly to the north).  You’ll drive on NYS Rt 5 approx 1 mile to the GVG trail crossing point where there will be a quick drop-off of Climbers at the GVG trailhead at NYS Rt 5.

(By-the-way, don’t be confused by any construction detour signs that may be present for US Rt 20 along the way, you wanna take NYS Rt 5.)

There is NOT a parking lot at the GVG trailhead on NYS Rt 5, where Climbers will be dropped-off, there is only the roadway shoulder which is NOT overly generous and is bordered by guardrail on the north side of NYS Rt 5.  For safety of dropping Climbers, if necessary and thought prudent the road shoulder on the south side of the roadway is wider for potential easier use AND on the south side of NYS Rt 5 just past the trailhead there is the very wide driveway apron entrance to Valley Sand and Gravel which could provide a space for being totally off the roadway when dropping Climbers.  (There are “no parking” signs posted at Valley Sand & Gravel entrance but, being a Sunday and likely no trucking activity, a mere pause in the apron area allowing to be totally off NYS Rt 5 in order to the drop-off the Climbers should not be a problem.)

Tourists/Naturalists/Flatlanders then will continue to drive on NYS Rt 5 to the next right-hand turn (County Rd 84 aka River Rd aka West River Rd) and will drive approximately 4 miles northbound on River Rd to the Lehigh Valley Trail access trail parking lot on the east side of River Rd.

At this parking lot is the trailhead for these three groups, which all will hike eastward from the parking lot to the junction with the GVG (“Wadsworth Junction” in nomenclature of the Lehigh Valley Railroad aka LVRR from days gone by) and will explore this junction area, the 1891 LVRR bridge and remaining bridge abutments area (on both sides of the river), and will hike variably distant mileages on the GVG southward before turning around and retracing their route to the parking lot.   (Climbers also will finish at this parking lot, and will get rides from Tourists/Naturalists/Flatlanders back to Berry’s Park parking lot in Avon.)

More detailed info to find the start point parking lot (trailhead) for Tourists/ Naturalists/ Flatlanders:  After dropping the Climbers, and continuing following NYS Rt 5 westward for a short distance to River Rd (aka West River Rd, aka County Rd # 84), turning right you’ll drive northward on River Rd approximately 4 miles to the small LVT access trail parking lot  ~GPS coordinates: 42.983157 , -77.743363.  You will find this parking lot on the east side of River Rd immediately past the driveway for Centerpoint Transfer Station Inc {119 River Rd}, and directly opposite the tall rectangular sign on the west side of the road that demarcates “Livingston Business Park” which has an address of 100 River Rd (CP Ward Crane / Construction Co and KBH Construction as two principal occupants of the Livingston Business Park).

The LVT access trail parking lot can accommodate perhaps 6 vehicles or so, and is up a slight rise from River Rd, and can be described as tucked away from plain view if you do not know to look for it.  The very short gravel entrance drive to this raised from the road parking lot can also be described as bounded by two guide wires from utility poles along the east side of River Rd.  (Additional parking may be had at roadside, or perhaps at Livingston Business Park parking lot across the street.  Of note, Centerpoint Transfer Station Inc at 119 River Rd, accessed via the very wide driveway next to the LVT access trail parking lot driveway does not operate trucking operations on Sundays.)

Tourists, Naturalists, and Flatlanders will hike eastward on the LVT access trail to reach the four-way intersect with the GVG and LVT at the Genesee River.  These groups will have ample time to explore this jct area.  There are Interpretive Signs in this area about the GVC, the GVCRR, & the LVRR (the LVRR with its once huge approach (trestle) to the LVRR bridge over the Genesee River), and more about lay of the land including railroad junctions.  The interpretive signs provide a mini history lesson in and of themselves, and assimilate you to the “lay of the land” as it previously existed. [By-the-way, the jct interpretive area also has benches and picnic tables.]     Of note, the LVT access trail affords views of the high abutments for the trestle that formed the approach to the former LVRR bridge over the Genesee River.  There are also even more impressive approaches to the bridge lying on the east side of the Genesee River along the LVT linear park.

Of course, being that this is a GVG hike, Tourists,  Naturalists, and Flatlanders will all hike some distance southward on the GVG after appreciating the numerous things to see at the jct area.

Tourists in hiking southward on the GVG and gauging the two hour hike time will turn around and retrace their steps for an approx two hour hike.  Naturalists will do the same, but cover less mileage at a slower pace, as will the Flatlanders to their ability.

All groups, will ultimately close-out the hike by heading westward on the LVT access trail to the parking lot on River Rd where Tourists/Naturalists/Flatlanders parked.  Climbers will get rides back to their cars that were left at the NYSDEC fishing access area parking lot (aka Berry’s Park) and all will then have opportunity to join in an after-hike social to be held either at Tom Wahl’s Restaurant in Avon  -or-  at Avon Driving Park situate at the end of Spring St in Avon.  A determination for social locale will be made shortly before hike day.

After-hike Social

After-hike Social at Avon Driving Park (known as Avon Downs to the locals) at the end of Spring St in Avon ~ GPS coordinates  42.906791, -77.766153    This park contains a horse racing track of former glory days and is located at the end of Spring St in Avon.  Spring St can be accessed directly from NYS Rt 39 aka Wadsworth Ave (as well as from Genesee St), or via River St off Rt 5&20 to Spring St.  Routing directly from our 4/24/2016 hike – the most direct way is Rts 5&20 to River St to Spring St. Follow the signs for Avon Driving Park, and go slow on Spring St as there as definite curves and slopes.

Avon Driving Park social will be pot-luck format: please bring your own beverage (non-alcoholic as this park is an alcohol & tobacco free zone), and dish to pass (or make a suggested $5 donation to the social fund)  . Park facilities: two (closely situate) north and south picnic pavilions have picnic tables and benches, charcoal grills, electrical / area lighting, water spigot located near the picnic pavilions, restroom building with running water, playing fields, more, and of course the quintessential elliptical shaped horse race track.  – – – (Updated Note: Seasonal opening of the restroom building with running water occurred on Friday 4/22/2016.  Sincere Thanks to the Avon Parks Dept folks for this superb timing!   Of note: There is a porta-potti in the park for use when the restroom building is closed.)

Miscellanous:

**For disambiguation purposes (minutia), there are several segments of the former Lehigh Valley Railroad right-of-way that have been converted as rail-to-trail.  The LVT routing through towns of Rush & Mendon as an east-west oriented Monroe County linear park (that we briefly border/touch in today’s hike) is but one of those, and it is coupled by the former LVRR bridge over the Genesee River with the LVT access trail aka LVT extension (which we all hike today) that is in the far northern reaches of the town of Caledonia and which runs from the Genesse River westward to the LVT access Trail parking lot situate at River Rd. Two others nearby: 1)  there is a basically n-s oriented LVT that heads north from the former LVRR “Rochester Jct” in the town of Mendon and progresses northward to the Town of Henrietta , 2) in the Town of Victor there is a LVT as well as a contiguous Lehigh Crossing Park.

One advantage of a hike such as this one with timing in later April before deciduous leaves come on to trees and bushes in May is that hikers can see more beyond the sides of the trail than would be the case with foliage present.  And mosquitoes are not yet “is season” that may populate areas of standing water such as sections of former canal trough, artificially created low spots and/or ponds created by construction such as creating a right-of-way for railroad tracks elevated from surrounding topography including removing earth immediately adjacent the right-of-way to build up the right-of-way, quarrying operations, and naturally occurring low spots of topography.

Darn, You say.  You can not make this hike?, but want a group hike to explore the “Wadsworth Junction” area including the 1891 built LVRR bridge remains over the Genesee River?  Don’t fret, a future S/T hike will be held (date yet unknown) on the Lehigh Valley Trail (LVT) utilizing this area of trail, and other GVG hikes including one led by NYS Park staff will be at hand.

Some other opportunities on the GVG for a hike.  There is a 2 year series of hikes 2015 & 2016 on the GVG linear state park (GVGSP), totaling 14 hikes (7 in 2015 & 7 in 2016).  Each hike is held on the 2nd Saturday of each month April-October. You can read more about these hikes at www.fogvg.org  -or- www.nyparks.org  events.  Both the May & June 2016 GVG hike series scheduled hikes are in the proximate contiguous area of the GVG as the Sunday 4/24/2016 Springwater Trails hike.

A Hike Planner’s trials & tribulations note: In April 2016, a small section of US Rt 20 in the Town of Caledonia is closed for construction.  US Rt 20 just west of the Rts 5&20 bifurcation and east of the GVG US Rt 20 trailhead and parking lot (and also east of River Rd aka West River Rd) is closed and a detour exists for this segment of US Rt 20, due to construction of two culverts passing under the roadway.  Thus our hike on 4/24/2016 has chosen not to use the GVG US Rt 20 trailhead and parking lot.  This detoured section of US Rt 20 is predicted to be reopened sometime ~ 4/22-25/2016 or so. Thus it may or may not be open on 4/24/2016 hike day.  – – –  However, it is expected to be open for easy access traverse of US Rt 20 in order to get to the Saturday June 11th 2016 hike that will be on the section of the GVG directly south of the US Rt 20 trailhead, as hosted and led by GVGSP staff in the GVGSP hike series April-October 2016 (6/11 hike meet is a 10:00AM at Fowlerville Rd GVG trailhead, but check with GVGSP for any possible updates before you go).

One more chance to learn more history from Tom Cook; Tom is leading an event hike in Letchworth State Park on 4/23/2016 Saturday (the day just before this Springwater Trails hike). The topic is THE CCC CAMP AT BIG BEND IN LETCHWORTH STATE PARK.  Here is a hyperlink to the event info.

A very brief History Primer of the GVC,  and more info relevant to this 4/24/2016 hike and this transportation corridor evolution

The GVC ran from the Erie Canal in downtown Rochester (in the area of present day Canal Street adjacent Broad Street & Allen Street, kinda behind present day Nick Tahou’s Restaurant) to points southward, greatly paralleling the Genesee River, and the southern terminus of the GVC was designed to connect to the Allegany River, and thus was anticipated to give connection to the Ohio River and ultimately to allow for access to the Mississippi River.  But, … with the advent and popularization of railroads and competition therefrom, the Genesee Valley Canal came to be non-profitable, that grand plan of fully navigable commerce routes to larger rivers to the west never having come to fruition. Problems with maintenance, expenses and profitability, and more were owing to a number of factors, not just railroad competition.  There are parallels with numerous other canal systems that were ultimately closed, in part bowing to railroad competition.  Canal building mania, on the shirt-tails of the success of the Erie Canal, proved to be not the best investment in those who undertook involvement in such.

More about this GVG corridor, from days gone by.  After the GVC was permanently closed in 1878, the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad became the first railroad to occupy the former GVC corridor. The GVCRR itself would undergo two additional successor railroad ownerships before the railroad corridor would eventually (~1900) come to be the Rochester Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad.  In the 1960s the Pennsylvania RR & the NYCRR merged to become the Penn Central RR.  The 1960s saw closure of much of the north-south rail corridor that once was the GVC with some of this railroad corridor continuing open into the 1970s.

Of course, Tom S. Cook will be presenting much more about the GVC corridor at the 2PM APHS program!!!

Also of note, while today’s hike is a GVC history hike and we’ll be traversing the corridor of the GVC/GVCRR & successors and a small portion of the LVRR corridor (an east-west traversing corridor), this hike also weaves in two other railroad corridors (east-west traversing) of bygone railroads.

> 1) The former Attica Branch of Erie Railroad, part of this corridor is now the Erie-Attica Trail (EAT), intersects the GVG ~ 1/4 mile north of NYS Rt 5. (Climbers hiking group will see the GVG/EAT trail junction on the hike.) The EAT intersects the GVG from the east, and the corridor to the west while not a trail today is projected to someday have trail extend to River Rd (and perhaps beyond).  The former Erie RR Attica Branch corridor intersects with River Rd ~ 1/10th of a mile north of NYS Rt 5, look for the very first “tree row” extending from both sides of River Rd as you are driving northward and you’ll see it.

> 2) Often referred to as the “Peanut Line” but officially designated as Batavia Branch of the NYCRR, this east-west traversing railroad corridor originally chartered as the Canandaigua and Niagara Falls RR in 1851 opened its first section from Canandaigua to Batavia in 1853, with more sections to open quickly following.  But come 1858 this bankrupt RR was purchased by the NYCRR and reorganized as the Niagara Bridge and Canandaigua RR, and in 1890 the NYCRR reorganized this entity into itself. Owing to its relatively small size in comparison to the whole of the NYCRR miles of track, it got a quick vernacular designation as the “Peanut Line” attributed to a comment made by a NYCRR administrator- something to the effect that it was a small peanut of a line.  The Peanut Line former RR corridor intersects with the GVG about 1/3 mile south of the GVG/LVT jct.  (So, All hiking groups will have opportunity to see this jct where the Peanut Line passed over the current GVG corridor if they wish to). The intersect is evidenced by remaining bridge abutments, and also by high voltage power-lines and poles crossing over the GVG.  The Power lines and poles demarcating the corridor can also be seen at the south edge of Dugan Creek Logging & Lumber property on River Rd as you drive by.  Additionally, hikers on the GVG may be able to see some remaining bridge abutments of the former Peanut Line over Dugan Creek (these are just east of the GVG).  And a bit further east (but not visible from the GVG) would be the remaining bridge abutments demarcating the crossing locale of the former Peanut Line over the Genesee River to “Golah” on the east side of the river.

(Of note, “Golah”, at the western end of Golah Rd is situate along the south side of Honeoye Creek just before the confluence with the Genesee River and is a possible kayaking access point to both Honeoye Creek and the Genesee River.)  Golah is the point where the Peanut Line of the NYCRR and the Rochester Branch of the Erie Railroad (today the Livonia Avon & Lakeville RR – aka LAL RR – operates the former Erie trackage {a n-s traverse} in this area) had junction.  Golah Rd runs westward off East River Rd to a dead end and is located in the Town of Rush.

A few years back, there was impetus to have the Peanut Line as a rail-to-trail right into the heart of Honeoye Falls, and various permissions were granted, but some private property was involved for which no permission could be obtained (so it never happened).  Of note, there is a Peanut Line rail-to-trail in Canandaigua area (Ontario County) and another in Clarence area (Erie County).

If as you hike the GVG and/or drive River Road (and surrounds) you discern possibilities (past, present, and future) of quarrying for sand and gravel throughout this area of Caledonia well, … you’d be correct!  In fact, akin to this, very near the jct of the LVT access trail and the GVG, you’ll find a boulder with inscription that Joe Spezio of Elam Sand and Gravel in 1998 donated a number of acres of land along the Genesee River for use of the GVG.

??? – Still thirsting for more GVC and RR history, relative to this transportation corridor now dubbed the GVG?  There are many interpretative signs in various locations along the GVG, including some at Canawaugus Park (which is located along the GVG ~ milepost 10).  Canawaugus Park spans Oatka Creek at the se corner of the Village of Scottsville on NYS Rt 251.    There is parking at Canawaugus Park, for park, trail, and fishing access.  Oakta Creek (which flows eastward toward the nearby Genesee River) was one of many water sources for the Genesee Valley Canal (which opened in 1840) and Oakta Creek was also a water source for the short-routed and short-lived “Scottsville and Genesee River Canal” (1838-1840).

 Of course your local library system has many books on the topic of NYS Canals and NYS Railroads, as well as many more local history topics, and HIKING too!.  There are also internet resources on these topics. 

A hike that Springwater Trails did on Sunday, 10/18/2015 in conjunction with another APHS program – this one on the 1876 Avon Opera Block has a hyperlink here.

Disclaimer: While attempts are made to present factual historical information, there is no guarantee of no slip-ups such as typographical or some manner of factual err in the information contained herein.

Annually, one of two big shindigs that Victor Hiking Trails (VHT) sponsors, is National Trails Day (NTD) observed the first Saturday of June.  In 2016 the date is June 4th.  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, 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” in 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.

You can read about National Trails Day from 2015 in the the VHT newsletter The Pathfinder Spring 2015 edition (volume 20, issue 1, page 6).   And of course, you can check the VHT website for updated details about the NTD hike for June 4th, 2016.  A direct hyperlink is here.