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Genesee Valley Greenway Passport Series – 2017 – hike #6 (modified) – Fowlerville Rd southbound

Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) hike on Saturday, 9/9/2017. Series Hike #6 (modified)—Fowlerville Road going south.

Historic Interpretive Hike Series (Wegmans Hike #6, please note this hike is modified): Fowlerville Rd going south Saturday, September 9th, 2017 10:00 AM GVG Parking Area Fowlerville Road, Town of York, NY.  Meet at the parking area on the south side of Fowlerville Road (GPS: N42 53.505 W77 49.419)

Starting at GVG mile 21, hike southbound to the major trail washout and turnaround and hike back to the parking area.    **Special note on modification  –  This hike usually starts at York Landing and travels north but, due to a serious trail wash out just north of York Landing in June, we will be starting at Fowlerville Road (~GVG mile 21) and hiking south to the wash out, about 1.8 miles. This hike is on easy, flat trail with a mixed surface. (3.6 miles total)

The guide will provide history of the Town of York and also point out historic canal and railroad features, and also note interesting natural features along the way. This hike is one of 14 hikes in the Wegmans Passport to Wellness Program. Completion of hikes in this series makes the trail user eligible for Wegmans grocery coupons or a NYS Parks Empire Passport. Passports will be available at the time of the hike and there will be an opportunity to complete the rubbing for this hike. Questions: [email protected] or (585) 493-3600

The Genesee Valley Greenway State Park is hosting this hike. There is no charge to attend this hike. Therefore, please consider joining us.

For more information, check the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) website, their Passport page, and the complete 2017 GVG Passport Series.

– – – Additionally, the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park (GVGSP) Facebook page usually lists the upcoming GVGSP events, and the FOGVG Facebook page also lists numerous GVG events in our area albeit a greater proportion of events listed on this page may at times be in the “Southern Tier” portion of the GVG as planned by a group of hikers known as the Southern Tier Greenway Hiking Group (STGH or STGHG) who welcomes all to hike with them.

– – –    We also have a short history of the Greenway.

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Bike the GVG – Avon to York Landing – May 2017

So, you’ve been itching to get on your bike this Spring with impetus of a group bike outing of some kind.  Well, here is an opportunity to do just that … on the Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) from Avon to York Landing (round trip) on Saturday May 20th, 2017 at 10:00AM.  Approximately a 17 mile round trip easy paced bike ride, and all trail mileage covered is in the nw corner of Livingston County.   Meet location is at the Erie-Attica Trail (EAT) trailhead in Avon, accessed by Farmers Road off Rts 5&20 just east of the Genesee River.


– – – A digression – – Speaking of itching, this Hike Planner has had impetus to utilize the section of the GVG shortly north of Fowlerville Rd (and south of US Rt 20), said section has a short duration of trail topped with thick stone dust (mostly fine stone sans dust), for a ST hike since early Spring 2016 just following reconstruction of said section of trail which had been necessitated as result of a huge washout area.  The thick stone dust topper (as determined during a potential preview hike in April 2016), provided wonderful cushioning upon a hikers joints, albeit bike/stroller/wheelchair wheels found much friction/consternation due to sinking in the freshly laid thick topper surface.  

Due to complaints of wheeled trail users, later in 2016 the topper surface was rolled by a heavy duty roller to make for some compaction factor, and the surface is said now to be kinder to the aforementioned narrow wheeled vehicles (and probably offers less of an exuberant opportunity for a hiker’s joints).   If there is a lesson here, perhaps it is that not all opportunities are lasting, some have but a small window of opportunity.  Still, a future ST hike planned to utilize this section of the GVG may offer multiple unique opportunities including this now somewhat tamed section of thick stone dust topper.  

Anyway, you’ll get to see this short section and so much more of the GVG via your bike on this traverse much more quickly than while on a hike. – – –

(A further digression, …for the curious, …  utilization of the aforementioned section of trail south of US Rt 20 was in consideration for the 4/24/2016 ST hike, but ultimately was scrapped from the fledgling Hike Plan due to what would have been a controverted driving route to reach the GVG trailhead parking lot on US Rt 20, all thanks to road reconstruction on US Rt 20 just east of the GVG trailhead.  -Now you know – substantially trials and tribulations that weighed in nixing this unique section of trail south of US Rt 20 for the 4/24 ST hike, … instead all hiking groups headed north from Avon.)  – – –  End of digressions. – – – 


GETTING THERE:

From just inside Avon’s western town limits, to reach the Erie-Attica Trail parking lot & trailhead follow Farmers Rd to the end where you’ll find both the parking lot & the trailhead.  – – –  Seem familiar?  Well, ST has in the past (10/18/2015 hike) held a hike utilizing exactly this trailhead and parking lot, as well as parts of the connecting GVG, so yes, it may seem familiar.  And an April 24th 2016 ST hike also utilized the GVG in this area.

Detailed Directions From Springwater: Take Rt 15A North. In Lima, turn left on US Rt 20 (concurrent NY Rt 5, thus known as Rts 5&20). Follow Rts 5&20 for 7.6 miles (you will cross over I-390, pass through the hamlet of East Avon and the Village of Avon. After the traffic circle in the village, continue on Rts 5&20 for 0.8mi and turn right on Farmers Rd. The parking area is on the right, just after you pass under the flyover for the former RR truss bridge (now the Erie-Attica Trail truss bridge).

Further Event Details for this May 20th biking event are listed on the FOGVG Facebook page.

GVG Passport Booklet:  This bike ride will cover a stretch of trail where you’ll be able to avail yourself of making a rubbing in the Wegman’s Passport to Family Wellness – GVG passport booklet.   For those unfamiliar – – –   Wegmans – “Passport to Family Wellness Program” series booklet for the Genesee Valley Greenway is a passport compilation of 14 separate hikes on the GVG, each hike route having a “rubbing post” for trail users to produce a “rubbing” in their passport booklet with purpose of documenting that a trail user has completed the respective hike.  Passport booklets filled-in with rubbings can be turned in at a Wegmans retail store for redemption of coupons for Wegmans brand products and entry for a prize drawing.   So, remember to bring your GVG passport booklet on this bike ride.

 

(Event post initially published on 5/7/2017, updated 5/17/2017.)

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Genesee Valley Greenway Passport Series – 2017 – Hike #2

Today’s hike is an easy, flat trail with cinder surface, crossing an historic double-arched Genesee Valley Canal (GVC) culvert.

Meet at the Brook Rd Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) Parking area. Total distance out and back is 3.7 miles.

For more information, check the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) website, their Passport page, and the complete 2017 GVG Passport Series.

– – – Additionally, the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park (GVGSP) Facebook page usually lists the upcoming GVGSP events, and the FOGVG Facebook page also lists numerous GVG events in our area albeit a greater proportion of events listed on this page may at times be in the “Southern Tier” portion of the GVG as planned by a group of hikers known as the Southern Tier Greenway Hiking Group (STGH or STGHG) who welcomes all to hike with them.

– – –    We also have a short history of the Greenway.

(subnote: The historic double-arched Genesee Valley Canal culvert (aqueduct) is best viewed for picturesque value from points other than on the GVG itself.  As attested to by on-site GVG signage, the culvert/aqueduct, later turned viaduct for the railroad and subsequently the GVG, conducted the GVC over Black Creek.  A great photographic vantage point is offered while on Black Creek in a kayak/canoe/boat.  At low water levels you may be able to paddle Black Creek under the GVG to view both sides of the historic culvert , but at high water levels … well, not so.)

 

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Genesee Valley Greenway Passport Series – 2017 – Hike #3

Genesee Valley Greenway State Park (GVGSP) Passport Hike Series–Brook Road to Morgan Road–Wegmans Hike #3
Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Brookdale Preserve, on Brook Road, Scottsville, NY
The GPS Coordinates: N43 04.577 W77 42.550

Meet at the Brook Rd Genesee Valley Greenway (GVG) Parking area.

The hike will be going southward from the Brook Road parking lot along the eastern edge of Brookdale Preserve. We will see remnants of the Genesee Valley Canal and the well preserved Lock #2.

The hike leader is Elijah Kruger from the educational staff of Letchworth State Park. The hike distance is 4.3 miles round trip. The Genesee Valley Greenway State Park is hosting this hike. There is no charge to attend this hike. Therefore, please consider joining us.

For more information, check the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) website, their Passport page, and the complete 2017 GVG Passport Series.

– – – Additionally, the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park (GVGSP) Facebook page usually lists the upcoming GVGSP events, and the FOGVG Facebook page also lists numerous GVG events in our area albeit a greater proportion of events listed on this page may at times be in the “Southern Tier” portion of the GVG as planned by a group of hikers known as the Southern Tier Greenway Hiking Group (STGH or STGHG) who welcomes all to hike with them.

– – –    We also have a short history of the Greenway.