The 21st Annual ADK-GVC Outdoor Expo will be held on Saturday, June 9th 2018 at the Beach area of Hundred Acre Pond in Mendon Ponds County Park off Douglas Road.   Outdoor activities, learning, experiences, educational & workshop sessions, etc abound at this free event, 9:30AM-3:30PM.  And, YES, there are free trials of various kayaks and/or canoes, this aquatic activity is at the beach area of the Hundred Acre Pond.

Myriad presentations and interactive events are mostly centered around the area near the beach and contiguous areas of the adjacent parking lot.  Many organizations, individuals, and businesses, all come together with the Genesee Valley Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK-GVC) to make this a premier event for outdoor enthusiasts.

Here is a hyperlink to ADK Outdoor Expo.  http://www.gvc-adk.org/expo

And here is a hyperlink to an article about the 2015 Outdoor Expo, included for reference of the myriad type activities.

Our hike this Sunday will be a combination of field, creek and woods on the Sandy Bottom Trail in Honeoye. We will meet at the parking lot on East Lake Road, 3/10 of a mile south of Rte 20A/Main St., Honeoye. The lot is small – about 10 cars max, so some may have to park on the road shoulder. We will all start out together on the field portion and then there are options: head down the path to the long winding creek for a creek walk to explore some of the most interesting rocks I’ve seen in the area, and fossils here and there as well. Or, continue walking the field loop into the woods loop and back out to finish the field loop (about 3 miles), then head down to explore the creek. I spent well over an hour exploring the creek with a couple of friends last Spring – there’s plentiful treasures to see! Recommended attire – sturdy shoes with decent treads, walking sticks for creek with slippery stones.

Directions:
From the south (Naples, Springwater, etc): Take Rte 21 North to CR 36,make left onto CR 36, make right onto East Lake Road – parking lot is on left.
From the north (Bloomfield, Victor, Rochester, etc): Take CR 40 south to Rte 20A, cross 20A onto East Lake Road, parking lot is on right, 3/10 of a mile from intersection.
From the east (Bristol, Canandaigua, etc): Take Rte 64 south to Rte 20A, make right onto 20A, left onto East Lake Rd
From the west (Hemlock, Livonia, etc): Take Rte 15A to Route 20A, make left onto 20A, right onto East Lake Road

Social: Gather at the Honeoye Boat House a mile south of the SBPL for food & drink & chat

Our hike this Sunday will be a combination of field, creek and woods on the Sandy Bottom Trail in Honeoye. We will meet at the parking lot on East Lake Road, 3/10 of a mile south of Rte 20A/Main St., Honeoye. The lot is small – about 10 cars max, so some may have to park on the road shoulder. We will all start out together on the field portion and then there are options: head down the path to the long winding creek for a creek walk to explore some of the most interesting rocks I’ve seen in the area, and fossils here and there as well. Or, continue walking the field loop into the woods loop and back out to finish the field loop (about 3 miles), then head down to explore the creek. I spent well over an hour exploring the creek with a couple of friends last Spring – there’s plentiful treasures to see! Recommended attire – sturdy shoes with decent treads, walking sticks for creek with slippery stones.

Directions:
From the south (Naples, Springwater, etc): Take Rte 21 North to CR 36,make left onto CR 36, make right onto East Lake Road – parking lot is on left.
From the north (Bloomfield, Victor, Rochester, etc): Take CR 40 south to Rte 20A, cross 20A onto East Lake Road, parking lot is on right, 3/10 of a mile from intersection.
From the east (Bristol, Canandaigua, etc): Take Rte 64 south to Rte 20A, make right onto 20A, left onto East Lake Rd
From the west (Hemlock, Livonia, etc): Take Rte 15A to Route 20A, make left onto 20A, right onto East Lake Road

Social: Gather at the Honeoye Boat House a mile south of the SBPL for food & drink & chat

Last Summer and Fall, the Bristol Hills hike series was systematically moving north up the Bristol Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail, one section each month. Then hunting season interfered and we needed to skip a section that was closed for the season. Now we are finally returning to the section north of Prattsburg to a section of the trail entirely in the woods.We will walk through a wide variety of forest including an active sugarbush, a beach forest, and a nature white pine forest. 

This hike is a one-way hike so please expect some car shuffling. We are planning three routes. The Naturalists will hike the northern 1.6 miles, the Tourists will hike the southern 3.1 miles, while the Climbers to hike the entire 4.7 miles. There are no major climbs on this section, although the southern section has several down-slopes of 100 feet, followed by a matching climb back up.

Following the hike please join us for a potluck dinner social at the park in Prattsburg Town Square. Please bring a dish to pass and your own beverage. In case of rain, there is a small shelter at the park.

Logistics: Amy, Saralinda and Linda and I will position cars at the north end of the hike, where the Naturalists and Climbers will need rides back to their cars. We will meet at 3:20 on Pulteney Rd, drop off two cars and then drive to the Prattsburg Town Square. All other hikers should meet at the Prattsburg Town Square at 3:45. From the town square, we will car pool to the start of the hikes. We will only have shoulder parking at the hike, so minimizing the number of cars will be helpful. I am also hoping that a couple of Tourists can bring two sets of car keys, so that the Naturalist hikers can drive tourist cars to the mid-point of the hike where they will be positioned for the tourist’s return ride.

All hikers should meet on Rt 53 in Prattsburg at 3:45. The Naturalists will carpool to the Tuttle Rd crossing (about 7 minute drive), while all other hikers will carpool to Browns Corners Rd.

Directions:

From Springwater: Take NY 15 south to Wayland. At the light, turn left onto NY 21 for 8 miles through N. Cohocton to Naples. At the stop sign in Naples, turn right onto NY 53. It is 10.5 miles on NY 53 to Prattsburg. Park on the left side near the park before you get to Mechanic St. 

From Naples: Take N Main St south toward Wayside Market.  Continue straight onto NY 53. It is 10.5 miles on NY 53 to Prattsburg. Park on the left side near the park before you get to Mechanic St. 

From Geneseo and Dansville (via 390): Take I 390 South toward Corning. Merge onto I 86 East for 1 mile. Take exit 37 for NY-53. Turn left onto NY 53 North. Follow 53N for 11.4 miles to Prattsburgh. Park on the right side by the park just after Mechanic St.

Tourist and Climbers directions to Access 12: Head south on NY 53, and take the first left on Mechanic St. Turn left to follow the main road onto Fairgrounds Rd. Take the first left onto Browns Corners Rd (CR 75). In 0.2 miles, the road curves left. In about 0.7 miles, there is a sign for the Finger Lakes Trail and a gravel parking area on the right side.

Naturalists directions to Tuttle Rd: Head north on NY 53.Take the first right onto Chapel St, At the tee, turn left onto N Main St. In 2.9 miles turn right onto Tuttle Rd. In about a mile, there are signs for the Finger Lakes Trail. If you get to a left turn on Pizura Rd, you have gone too far. Park on the right side near the trail.

The hike on Sunday 24th June 2018 will follow a section of the Bristol Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail in Naples. Springwater Trails has signed up to maintain this section of the Finger Lakes Trail.  This section passes through the West Hill Preserve off Seman Rd and then across private land to Mt Pleasant St. in Naples. This section of trail is also in our plan to walk the entire length of the BHB.

We will walk this stretch of the BHB and cut away and brush and weeds that have overgrown the trail. The most useful tools for this are lopers and a small saw, and a weed whacker or two for the long grass; be sure to wear good work or gardening gloves. It’s a fairly long hike; if there’s a lot of grass to be cleared (this is usually at the two ends of the trail) then we’ll either leave teams there with weed whackers to concentrate on that or come back another day to finish the job.

We will meet at the entrance to the West Hill Preserve on Seman Road (42.66166, -77.396288). We will shuttle some cars down to the hike end in Naples (42.625950, -77.397304) before we start. The climbers will follow the trail down to the old cemetery in Naples.  Naturalists follow the trail to the sign in box and then return to the cars on Seman Road.

Please note: Dogs are not allowed to hike on the Nature Conservancy property.

The Social 

Following the hike, please join us for a social at the Neapolitan Pizzeria at 120 N. Main Street in Naples. If the weather is fine we can take a table on the porch.

Directions to the Hike Meeting Point: 

From Springwater: Head south on NY 15 (for 5.2mi). At the light in Wayland turn left on NY 21N (for 6.7mi). In N Cohocton, turn left to stay on NY 21N (for 4.5mi). In Naples, turn left again to stay on NY 21N (for 1.8mi). On the north side of Naples, turn left on CR12 and head up the hill for 1.9 miles.  Take the first left, Rhine St., to the 4 way  intersection.  Go left onto Seman Rd.  Trailhead is about 1/2 mile, by a big sign on the left. Park along the road.

From Honeoye: Head south on CR 36 on the west side of Honeoye Lake (for 13.6 miles from NY 20A). Turn left onto Gulick Rd (for 2 mi), then right on Davis Rd (for 0.7mi). At the end of Davis, turn left on W Hollow Rd (CR 33) for 0.5mi, then right on Seman Rd. The Trailhead is about 1 mile, by a big sign on the right. Park along the road.

What better way to enjoy the hot weather than by taking a kayak or a walk along the gem of Hemlock Lake?  This week we will meet at the South Boat Launch on Hemlock Lake just miles north of the light in Springwater, and kayak up the inlet.  The water is high and the red winged black birds and baby ducks are absolutely delightful.  The eagles may even turn out to soar above us.  We will kayak into the inlet until we hit a “tree block”, turn around and come back.  If time we may head north for a bit on the shore of Hemlock Lake.

Attention: It is highly recommended that you bring sun glasses, suntan lotion, bug spray and water. It is going to be hot and sunny and there is no shade on the lake!

If kayaking isn’t for you, there is a lovely walk a,,long the lake with several opportunities to get down to the lake and enjoy the view of the water and the opposite tree filled shore.  The walk goes along an abandoned road, which eventually turns into a bit of a path.  It is approximately a total of 3 miles. 

Social: Pot luck social after the hike near the parking lot.  Please bring a dish to pass.  The grill will be cooking hot dogs. 

Kayak:  Hemlock Boat Launch:  South end, please arrive around 3:40 to get kayaks in the water

Hike:  Hemlock trail from south end boat launch.

Directions:

From Springwater: Follow 15A North from Springwater for 2.3 miles.  Turn left into the parking area, then an immediate right to head down the access road. In about half a mile, the launch is on the left, and the parking area is on the right. 

From Hemlock or Honeoye:  Follow 15A South for 8.4 miles from the 15A / 20A intersection south of Hemlock.  Turn right into the parking area, then an immediate right to head down the access road. In about half a mile, the launch is on the left, and the parking area is on the right. 

Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area is a 5,100 acre upland tract named after the Timber Rattlesnake, which historically was found in the more remote sections of the “Hill.” There are multiple trail options on Ebert Rd, where we will hike this week. The Climbers have the opportunity to take a 1.5 mile loop that follows along a ravine north of Ebert Rd, and after coming back up to Walworth Rd, take a loop around the ponds. The Tourists will loop around the ponds and connect with another loop south of Ebert Rd. The Naturalists can explore the grass fields and woods around the parking area for signs of the prior homestead, and take the short trail to one of the ponds created by the DEC.

There will be sections of tall grass (unless we get lucky and DEC mows this week), and possibly a bit of mud in spots (blame the beaver). Dress accordingly. You know you need bug spray.

History

Rattlesnake Hill was initially logged for its white pine and hemlock, then homesteaders settled and grew grain. Historic county atlases show 8-9 homesteaders on what is now Ebert Rd. Years of intensive and careless use led to loss of land fertility and the farmers left. The tract was purchased by the federal government in the 1930s under the Federal Resettlement Administration.

Our parking location was once the site of a homestead, owned by E. Burrall according to the 1872 County Atlas, and by 1902 it was owned by F. Rathburn. Neither atlas shows an Ebert, so it would appear that name came from some other source.

Social: Pot luck social after the hike near the parking area.  Please bring a dish to pass and something to sit on.  The grill will be cooking hot dogs, and I will bring the propane.

Directions From Dansville

No street address, enter these coordinates into Google maps for a look: 42.527497, -77.843613. Head west on Route 436 out of Dansville (2nd light), toward Nunda. At approximately 8 miles, turn left on Shute Rd. In approximately 3/4 of a mile turn left on Walsworth Rd. Continue to the end of Walsworth, and turn left onto Ebert Rd. The parking area will be on your right in about 1/3 of a mile.

Please join us this Sunday as we complete the Bristol Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail and celebrate this treasure for our area.

This hike will be on the northern most section of the BHB between Ontario County Park and West Hollow Rd.  Highlights include a nice wooden overlook of CR 33 and the hills beyond, and a pretty beaver pond which we will see up close and from the top of a hill. Almost all of the hike will be in woods, so you can skip the sun tan lotion, although little gnats may bug you. 

For this hike, we will all meet at Ontario Park pavilion 6. Enter the park, pass the camping and cabins and turn in at the sign for All Pavilions. The pavilions are in order. Following the hike, join us for an optional social at the pavilion. We will have a grill and hot dogs, so bring a dish to share and your own beverage.

NOTE: Dogs are permitted in the park only if on a leash. No one can carry weapons in the park.

The Naturalists will walk north west from the pavilion, across the baseball field, to pavilion 3. At the corner of the road, a trail leads west to the entrance of the BHB (look for Finger Lakes Trail signs). Once on the trail, follow orange blazes. The trail is well marked going out. First you will pass the overlook.  Take the stairs down to the left, and the trail goes out the corner of the clearing near the stone wall. Continue to follow orange blazes until you come to the mail box where you can sign in. On Wednesday, there were no pens or pencils, so the first hiker who remembers to bring a pen should leave it in the mailbox for other hikers. At the mailbox, turn around to follow the trail back. If you see a right turn (away from the steep hill), you can take that trail back to the road and the shelter. Otherwise, stay on the orange trail back. The outward portion of this trail has one steep climb, which isn’t very long. This hike is about 2.5 miles with one steep climb.

The Tourists will start out with the Naturalists, but will continue on the orange trail past the mailbox. The mailbox is at the highest point on the Bristol Hills Branch, so most of the rest is downhill to the beaver pond. There are several gates crossing from the park to private land, which are easy for you to pass through. After the beaver pond, cross the outlet creek for another steep climb to overlook the west side of the pond. From there it is about a mile out to CR 33 (West Hollow Rd) and the cars that the climbers have left. This hike is 3 miles with two short climbs and one 600 foot descent. 

Meanwhile, the climbers will carpool to West Hollow Rd and park at the Boy Scout lot on the west side of West Hollow Rd. From the lot, they will cross West Hollow Rd and walk south about 100 feet. Cross the road ditch at the post with the first of many orange blazes. From there, follow the blazes through the woods to the beaver pond, then up a long hill to the mailbox. From the mailbox, it is about 1.5 miles to the overlook and back to the pavilion. This hike is 3 miles with a 600 ft climb.

DIRECTIONS: Note: The road through the park is one way counter-clockwise.  Google maps takes you the wrong way around the loop!

From Springwater, Wayland and Naples: Take NY 15 south from Springwater to Wayland. At the light, turn left onto NY-21. At the stop sign in N Cohocton, turn left to stay on NY-21. At the stop sign in Naples, turn left to stay on NY-21.  Continue on NY-21 for 1.8 miles through Naples. Bear left onto CR 12 (Bristol Springwater Rd) up the hill. In 1.9 miles bear left onto Rhine St. In a half mile, at the four way stop, continue straight onto Powell Rd, which becomes Gannett Hill Rd in 0.3 miles. In 3.2 miles, continue straight after the stop sign into the park. You will pass the tent camping area, and the cabins on the right, before you come to the entrance to the pavilions on the left.  We will park at pavilion 6. Come a bit early to enjoy to view across the valley and to use the restrooms.

From Canandaigua: Take NY 21S to South Bristol. Turn right onto NY 64N into South Bristol. In 0.4 miles, turn left onto Gannett hill Rd (see the sign for Ontario County Park). At the stop sign at the top, turn right into the Park. You will pass the tent camping area, and the cabins on the right, before you come to the entrance to the pavilions on the left.  We will park at pavilion 6.

From Honeoye: Take US-20A east through Honeoye. Turn right onto E. Lake Rd, then left onto CR 33 (Egypt Valley Rd). In 5.9 miles, continue straight onto CR 34. At the tee, turn right onto NY 64S. In 1.9 miles, turn right onto Gannett Hill Rd (see the sign for Ontario County Park). At the stop sign at the top, turn right into the Park. You will pass the tent camping area, and the cabins on the right, before you come to the entrance to the pavilions on the left.  We will park at pavilion 6.

Directions from the park to the parking area on West Hollow Rd (Climbers): Exit from the pavilions, and turn left onto the park road. Follow the park road around to the 4 way stop. Turn right onto Gannett Hill Rd.In 1.6 miles, turn right onto Porter Rd. At the end of Porter Rd, turn right onto W. Hollow Rd. In 1.2 miles (watch your mileage), there is a parking area on the left.  This parking area is hidden, so  watch carefully.  If you get to the Gell Center on the right, you have gone too far.

Directions from West Hollow Rd back to the park (Tourists): At the end of the tourist hike, the trail goes right to cross West Hollow Rd into the parking area. Drive out of the parking area and turn right onto West Hollow Rd. In 1.2 miles, turn left onto Porter Rd. At the end of Porter Rd, turn left onto Gannett Hill Rd. At the 4 way stop, continue straight into the park. Come to Pavilion 6.

Too hot to hike?  Think again.  This week’s event is a perfect solution.  The Houghton Preserve is a shady respite from the heat wave, nestled on a hilltop to catch an occasional breeze. The trails are not at all strenuous, so hikers can relax and enjoy their time in the woods.
This preserve is a gift from Jamie and Maisie Houghton to the Finger Lakes Land Trust.  The family has deep roots in the Corning Community dating back to the mid 1800’s.  The terrain is mostly wooded, but meadows fringe the boundaries.   The trails are level with one moderate pitch.  Off trail there are some steep gullies to view.  The FLLT website has a more thorough description and a trail map of this preserve and many other preserves around the Finger Lakes..

All hikers will be using the same trails this week.  The leader will provide maps and suggested routes for our subgroups.

Naturalists may be challenged by the short climb out from the parking area on the blue trail.  The footing is excellent.  It is a short uphill walk to a lovely overlook of the valley.  A bench, built by a local eagle scout, awaits those in need of a rest and an opportunity to listen for Bobolinks in the meadow.  Total mileage < 1.5 miles.

Tourists and Climbers  will be able to tackle al of the trails in about 1.5 hours time.  There are various loops to explore at a leisurely pace.  Wildlife possibilities include porcupines and yellow billed cuckoos overhead in the forest canopy. Mileage will be < 4 miles.

Please note:  Dogs must be leashed at all times

Social  We should have plenty of time to enjoy the apres hike gathering, just a short drive away in downtown Corning, at the Market Street Brewing Company, 63 West Market Street.  The menu offers a variety of apps, entrees, sandwiches, desserts, and of course  fresh brewed beers.  The pub supports local growers. Indoor and outdoor seating is  available as long as we call ahead on Sunday.  Parking should be available on the street nearby. See http://www.936-beer.com for the menu and description.

Directions from Springwater

Follow Rt 15 south through Wayland to I 390.  Follow 390 south/ 86 east to  the exit for Rt 352/ Denison Parkway ( pretty sure it is #45).  continue south on 352 for approximately 2 miles, then turn right on Chemung St.  Continue uphill  on Chemung (which becomes Spencer Hill Rd) for 2.3 miles.  The Preserve will be on your right.  There is ample parking.

We will do a carpool from the Springwater Town Hall leaving promptly at 2:45.