On Sunday, 5/4/14, 18 energetic hikers showed up at Sonyea State Forest.  This was a new location for our group.  The sky was partly cloudy and temps in 50s, making for pleasant, almost ideal, hiking conditions. Before hiking, we went, briefly, to a cemetery, across the road from the parking area.  During the 19th Century, there was a “home” for epileptic patients, on the site.  When a patient died, he was uncerimoniusly buried, with just his patient number to mark his grave.  One grave had a stone, with a name, probably put there by the family. But, we were here to hike.  Rick lead the majority of hikers along the west side of the forest, along the Keshequa Creek Gorge, mainly on a trail made from former Pennsylvania Railroad tracks.  Scenic rapids and falls in the creek could be seen, as well as canal remnants.  Rick deviated slightly from our prehike path, coming out of the gorge, but, all got back well, enjoying a nice Sunday hike, about 4 miles.

A field of red Trillium

3 of us hung back, starting out slowly, to try to identify the many spring flowers on the trail.  Among those in full bloom were hepatica, spring beauty, bloodroot, coltsfoot, blue violets, spring rue, blue cohosh, and both red and white trilliums.  Mayapples were identified, but not yet blooming.  There were huge expanses of daylilies, not in bloom now, but should be quite a sight in about a month.  Spicebushes were in bloom.  Too early for mushrooms but many kinds of last year’s polypores were seen.  We could have checked out lots more but had to keep moving to complete the 3.7 mile loop before 4 PM.

Our social was a picnic at the parking lot.  Turned out to be vegetarian but some very healthy and delicious choices.  In our discussion, it was noted how our group uses Sunday afternoons to maintain our health with vigorous exercise, followed by a nutritious and enjoyable meal.

Information on some future events: (keep up to date on our calendar)

Saturday, May 10:  We are invited to join the Victor Hiking Group for a hike at scenic Chimney Bluffs on Lake Ontario.

The hike will be 3 to 4 miles on varying terrain. Bring a bag lunch and something to drink. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy hiking boots. Meet in the rear parking lot at Victor Town Hall, 85 East Main Street at 9:00 a.m. to carpool to the trail head. Or meet at the park in the large parking lot off Garner Road at 10:00 a.m. Map

Additional details can be found by calling 585-234-8226.

Sunday, June 1:  On our scheduled hike for that day at the north end of Letchworth State Park, co-leader Don has arranged a special tour of the Mt. Morris Dam for our group, at 12:30.  A minimum of 20 participants is required.  Anyone interested in doing this most informative tour is asked to contact Don at [email protected].  You can also contact Don for information about the hike this Saturday at Chimney Bluffs.

Friday, May 9:  Anyone who would like to join Pam, and others, to help clear and work on the Springwater Trail, please come, with loppers and other tools, to the Sugarbush Hollow sugar house at 9 AM.

Someone is still needed to organize the hikes for the summer months of July, August, and September.

Volunteer committees are being organized to maintain the Springwater Trail, and the Letchworth Trail.  If you would like to help in any of these endevours, please reply to [email protected].

It was a beautiful day Sunday – just right for an early spring tour of Durand Eastman park.

Turns out the hike & sun gods favored 20 Springwater Trails hikers at Durand-Eastman Park Arboretum on Sunday April 27th, and many other hikers at the CCE-Master Gardener led Arboretum tour as well. Sunny & nearly no winds, and the ground was fairly dry for the most part. Yes, there were blossoms of varying types although still a bit early for blossoming prime-time due to our “extended winter” and later season cold temps, and still no substantially warm days in succession to coax out more blooms. Three weeks later than initially planned for and two hike postponement dates later S/T had a great hike (two great hike routes in fact.)

A discussion during the tour of the Arboretum.

The Springwater Trails Naturalists hiked as part of a larger Interpretive led Tour/hike through part of the Arboretum centered around Zoo Rd & Pine Valley Rd. That group was led by three Cornell Coopertive Extension Master Gardener volunteers as part of the Sundays in April – Tours of the Arboretum. A very informative Interpretive Tour indeed, many blossoms, exotic trees both deciduous and evergreen, and so much more all were topics covered in the Arboretum tour, and a bit of hiking too for this Naturalist group.

Climbers (9 of ’em) set out on their own. Climbers, at a Tourist pace, toured through contiguous parts of the arboretum adjacent multiple lakes, climbed up & down numerous hills, navigated downed trees, and followed several trails.  As they wandered, they found one control point for the orienteering course set up at Durand Eastman.

The march to warmth.

Climbers crossed paths with the Naturalists a bit after midway in the hike. Climbers did some looking and a bit of group cooperative self-interpreting thanks to the Arboretum guide each was handed out at the initial hike meet point, and did a lot of appreciating along the hike. And while one day later than the officially organized date of “Clean Up the Parks Day” S/T hikers did our part on the effort of removal of stray bottles/cans, papers, and trash.

About a dozen hikers availed themselves of the after-hike social where a sweeping view of Lake Ontario high above Lakeshore Blvd at Three Lakes Pavilion afforded plenty of open space and facility. Grillin’ at the Pavili’n on a portable Propane Grill with fare of more than a dozen of both hot & cold potluck dishes-to-pass all set up along the stone wall of the pavilion worked well with nearly no winds. And for those of us not already schooled in the art of keeping a “hot dish” hot when bringing it to a social, …a couple of thick towels wrapping the dish or pan works fantastic for heat retention. Thanks to all for the fantastic cookin’, bakin’, salad makin’, and Grillin’ !!

If you did not make our first potluck picnic after-hike social of the Spring Season here’s what you missed: Zweigle’s Sausage, Hots, Chilidogs, Kosher dill pickles, lasagna, baked beans, veggie tray & dips & chips, many types of salads, two cakes (one being Char’s legendary Pineapple upside-down cake), and fresh cut watermelon. Toss in some non-alcoholic libations, some brews, wine glasses and vino & a view, … and it worked quite well. Truly a fantastic variety of food was served, sound good? Take notice, Sunday May 4th at the S/T Sonyea State Forest hike hikers not only have an opportunity to hike a new locale for S/T but also to enjoy the second Potluck Picnic of the Spring Season.

Specifically in our Arboretum hike discussions whilst among the conifers at varying points was how our S/T Evergreen aficionado and owner of All Western Evergreen Nursery would have appreciated the arboretum and contributed to the group if she had been able to attend this hike.

Time will tell if perhaps our joint hike efforts on this hike will result in a few new hikers to S/T, as some non-S/T hikers asked about the S/T hiking group. Many thanks to all who helped make this hike and social a great experience, and THANKS ESPECIALLY TO THE CCE MASTER GARDENERS!

Below are some more pictures from Char and Pam’s cameras.

members of Victor Hiking Club reached summit

This past Saturday and Sunday I had the rare opportunity to join two area hiking groups. Saturday I joined the Victor Hiking Group in the Hemlock/Canadice State Forest for an enjoyable walk down the trail on the west side of a slightly ice covered Canadice Lake. A few miles down the lake we entered a forest trail which led to the Nature Conservancy area of Rob’s Trail, climbing 700 ft up Bald Hill to it’s summit and back. I was a little skeptical of being able to complete the climb, but our gracious leaders from the Victor Hiking Club were a little different than our climbers in Springwater Trails (who travel at great speeds), taking a break at every 100′ feet to rest and observe the area. Much to my surprise tourists are capable of the climb if you take your time!

lake had a slight icey coat, ready to melt in a 60 degree day

Observations included a strange kermit type rock, large cropping of oak trees on Nature Conservancy property, a strange oily substance coming from the wetland area at the summit, and first sightings of the wildflower coltsfoot. On the way down the slippery hill, we ended back at the lake trail, and decided to travel closer to the lake. The water was a turquoise color, the ice was just about to melt, and one could feel a cold temperature adjustment like you were opening a refrigerator. It was an interesting and refreshing sensation on a warm spring day.

is it Kermit the Frog? a turle head?

I thanked the Victor Hiking Group for inviting Springwater Trails to hike with them, gave them some maple granola and BBQ sauce, and showed them access areas to Hemlock Lake and the Canadice Outlet if they wanted to return at another date. It was a nice day off with no responsibilities. There are more pictures at the bottom of this post.

Ninety hikers attended celebration of Crescent Trail / Victor Senaca Trail connection.

10 springwater trails hikers attended

On Sunday, 10 country Springwater Trails hikers went to the “burbs” to join the Victor Hiking Club and the Crescent Trails Association in 70 degree summer like weather for the dedication of the new Seneca Trail and merging of two county trails, Monroe and Ontario, in the Towns of Perinton and Victor. 90 hikers showed up for the celebration behind the old Valentown Museum near Eastview Mall. For country hikers, Springwater Trails had a variety of new terrain experiences walking through mall parking lots, behind corporate buildings, across main intersections, as we began and ended our 4 mile hike through a forested area around a highly developed area. Our climbers were quick to be at the fore front of the hike, and some even hiking back for a distance of 8 miles. I think we impressed a few with our skills! Except for a few ST hikers most were pick up at the Woodcliff where buses transported us back to Valentown.

early skunk cabbage in wetland

Observations by Gene include sounds of spring peepers, cardinal, red wing blackbird, blue jay and song sparrows. Georgia and Pam identifed many trees, plants, mushrooms and wildflowers including beech, black cherry, red oak, white oak, chestnut, muscle, cottonwood and hornbeam trees, first spring wildflowers of skunk cabbage and coltsfoot.

Thanks again to our neighboring hiking clubs and David Wright, President of Victor Hiking Trails for inviting us to participate! Hope to join you again!

Some more pictures from Saturday.

And even more from Sunday in the burbs.