21 hikers and 5 dogs

You would be extremely lucky if you could find the location of yesterday’s hike again at Rattlesnake Hill. Carol hid it well as we followed her and Pati through dusty back roads into the back country of Ossian in what looked like a scene from “Deliverance”. Mark and Linda were tied up but eventually found us!    Getting a somewhat late start, 21 hikers and 5 dogs began their hike at Trail #18 & #19 into an area that is rumored to harbor old quartz mines. Although Carol has already mined all she could find for her special role in the future, all we could find were good patches of wild geranium and miterwort and of course a beautiful walking trail.

climbers passed through a meadow

Hikers used their creativity to build directional signs so others wouldn’t get lost at the turns. They passed by a beautiful ridge, fields, and dense forests.

ridge trail

large patches of wild geranium

After hike social enjoyed shrimp, maple butter, watermelon, hot dogs and many other great salads beside a beautiful pond setting.  Thanks to Mark and Linda for transporting the very large grill and Carol and Pati for planning the hike. Bob keep working on the Garmond!  Suggestions for the future:  don’t wash your cars before a hike!

large patches of miterwort

social by pond

old Dixon Hollow Road

Hikers experienced what it meant to “bushwack” and “cross a creek” this past Mother’s Day as they explored the Canadice Outlet  into the DEC Hemlock/Canadice State Forest.  Hikers split at the creek where the old steel bridge once spanned the outlet, one group taking the high ridge trail to find the Canadice Hollow cemetary and the other taking the low trail along the creek into the historical village called Dixon Hollow.  All hikers experienced a truly memorable hike, full of stories, laughs, and hopefully an “outward bound” adventure.

Jack in the pulpit

The water of the creek was somewhat low this time of year and tourists got their feet wet as they crossed the creek by either rope, stones, or downed trees into the historical hamlet called Dixon Hollow in search of the Mather family homes and mill.   Old foundation remains of bridges, mills, and houses were explored along a small foot path following the old Dixon Hollow Road. Wild violets served as a snack along the way, and periwinkle, fringed polygala (an orchid like flower), jack-in-the pulpits, wild geraniums, true and false solomon seal, blue cohosh, bloodroot and trilliums were plentiful in an area that has been untouched for over 100 years. Much to Marty and Don’s surprise, the Mather homestead was located and surrounded by an unidentified plant. A broken cement dam helped the tourists to locate the old Mather mill which was dismantled and relocated to Clay Street in Hemlock in the early 1900’s. For more information look up Dixon Hollow, Hemlock, New York.

myrtle or periwinkle

The climber hikers explored the high ridge on the west side of the Canadice Outlet Creek.  Using GPS coordinates, their destination would take them into an unknown area to locate the logging trail next to the Canadice Hollow cemetary. Everyone craved for Pati’s apple when they finally came upon the logging trail after smelling bear odors, finding an old open well and foundation, and crawling on their hands and knees through a dense multi-flora rose patch. With some help from trail builders and maintenance workers this path could serve as a great connection into the Canadice Outlet area.

Thanks go out to neighbor Todd for helping to lead the Naturalists and Pam for hosting the after hike social which included dandelion blossom drink and samples of other wild edibles, maple pulled pork, strawberries, and hiker dishes to pass.  Welcome to our new hikers, and the return of Marty and Amy!

Fringed polygala gaywings

Hikers explored the DEC wildlife area along the winding waters, fields and woodlands of the Honeoye Creek in the area of Richmond Mills Road on a beautiful sunny day last Sunday.

Honeoye Creek carries outlet waters from Canadice, Hemlock and Honeoye Lakes to the Genesee River

The Honeoye Creek joins with the Hemlock Creek and merges into the Genesee River.  This wetland area is known for its reoccuring flooding, and evidence of our March and April snow and rain storms coming from Hemlock, Canadice and Honeoye Lakes and their tributaries could be seen along the creek banks.

Patches of heal-all
were found in the field along the creek trail

Naturalists identified several early wildflowers and plants along the creek trail.  Georgia and Pam identified known and unknown plants with the help of Gene’s Wildflower Book.  Heal-all (self heal), cleavers (bedstraw), yellow bedstraw, nettle, red ozier dogwood, honeysuckle, plaintain, blue violets, and spring beauty were found along the field trail.

Leafless poison ivy vines, growing up a tree in the spring, was also pointed out. Hikers should be aware that these vines are not grape vines and their oils can create an unwanted contact poison.

The most striking find were a very large patch of flowering adders tongue (trout lily) all along the high creek bank where the shagbark hickories and other trees meet the trail on the west side.  Everyone agreed they had never seen this many flowers blooming in one area.  Georgia indicated the flower was edible and a few were eaten, with no known side effects. Follow up research confirmed their safety.

Flowering adders tongue

Thanks to the Evanski’s for sharing their new home on Honeoye Lake with us and all hikers who brought outstanding dishes to pass for a relaxing social after the hike.