Join us on Sunday the 29th to celebrate the season in your hiking boots or on your skis as Mondoe County sponsors the 2023 Winterfest at Mendon Ponds Park.   Everyone, both hikers and skiers, will meet at the Nature Center parking area at 27 Pond Road, Mendon at 1:45 for a 2PM start. Naturalists and Tourists will explore the Birdsong and Swamp Trails adjacent to the Nature Center on foot, while Climbers will hike north and east to hike the Grassland and Devil’s Bathtub trails, crossing over to the East Esker and Quaker Pond Trails to make a loop of about 5.5 miles.  This is a fairly level hike, but we advise poles and traction footwear in case of ice, mud or slush.

Ski conditions are expected to be marginal, as there were only a few inches of wet snow on the ground as of Friday, and some light rain is possible Sunday. The trails will probably be busy on Sunday due to Winterfest activity, so any groomed tracks may be trodden over or melted down.  Bring your ski equipment if you want to give it a try, but we suggest you bring hiking boots and equipment also as a backup plan.

Come early for more family-oriented activities elsewhere in the park between 11 and 3.  See https://www.monroecounty.gov/parks-winterfest   for a line-up, including food trucks at Stewart Lodge, sledding, equipment and winter sports demonstrations, Wild Wings, Zoomobile, Mercy Flight, Mounted Patrol, and more.  Mendon Ponds Park map

Social afterwards at Flaherty’s Restaurant, 60 W. Main Street, Honeoye Falls.

Directions to Nature Center:

From Springwater: Head north on 15A for 21.6 miles through Hemlock and Lima. Take a right at the exit to Honeoye Falls. Stay on W Main St into the village where you will join NY 65 (1.9 mi). Continue straight onto NY 65 for 4.4 mi. (At 2 miles, you will go around a traffic circle. Stay on NY 65.) Turn right onto Pond Rd at the first park entrance. The Nature Center is just inside the entrance, on the right.

From Honeoye, take US 20A west and head north on CR 37 for 8.2 miles to W Bloomfield. Continue straight on NY 65 for about 3 miles, and make a right on Quaker Meeting House Road just before you come into Honeoye Falls. When Quaker Meeting House Road ends at Route 251 (Rush-Mendon Road), go left and then right on Route 65/Clover Street. The Pond Road entrance to the park is about 2 miles to the north, on the right. The Nature Center is just inside the entrance, on the right.

From Rochester: Exit I590 at Monroe Ave toward Pittsford. Turn right (south) onto NY 65 (Clover St). In about 6.7 you will come to the Canfield Road entrance to the park – this is not the one you want. Continue another 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Pond Rd, the second entrance into the park.  The Nature Center is just inside the entrance, on the right.

Directions to Flaherty’s for Social:  From Nature Center parking lot, go left to Clover Street (Route 65) and then left toward Honeoye Falls. Proceed about 5.5 miles to Honeoye Falls and through the center of the village. Flaherty’s will be on your left at #60 W. Main Street, which is Route 65.

Please join us this Sunday for a cross country ski, , snowshoe or hike,  while exploring  a hiking site not far from Springwater. A few years ago New York State acquired several new parcels of land to the south of Harriet Hollister Spencer Park, linked to the main park by an established snowmobile trail called C4.In the past, we’ve hiked the section of the C4 trail closest to the main park, and this Sunday we will snowshoe and hike from the parking lot, following Ruthies trail, to Chalet trail  to C4  trail. We will follow C4 to a point where we will turn onto a old single track hiking trail(red dashed) that crosses  the “Sidewinder” trail through the south east section of the park. we’ll follow this around and return back to the parking lot via the  single track trail  (red dash trail) which runs parallel with the overlook road.

Skiers will start out at the parking lot and may choose to take any of the many trails in the park or venture out of the main park on C4. This is a challenging  ski as there are a few uphill climbs but  finishing with a nice view out in a wide open field. Skiers can return to the main parking area by returning back on C4.

Wear proper clothing according to prevailing weather conditions . As always, bring water, skies and poles good hiking footwear, snowshoes and poles if you typically use them. The trail is gently rolling – no especially steep sections. Weather conditions at this time look favorable for cross country skiing.

Optional Social: Please join us at the Birdhouse Brewing Company in Honeoye – 8716 Main Street, just east of the traffic light, for craft beer and pub food

Directions:  

From Springwater and Wayland – take Route 15A North from Springwater, turning right on Wheaton Hill Road. Take a left on Canadice Road (County Road 42), forking to the right when County Road 42 divides off from Canadice Lake Road. Make the next right, on Tibbals Road (formerly Town Line Road). In 1.0 miles, Take the first left onto Ross Rd. At the stop sign (2.7 miles), take a sharp right onto Canadice Hill Rd. The parking lot will be on the left in 0.8 miles..

From Rochester or Canandaigua – go to Honeoye, and follow Route 21A (Main St. Honeoye) west toward Hemlock. About a mile out of Honeoye turn left on County Road 37. Follow County Road 37 until it makes a 90 degrees turn to the right across from the Canadice Methodist Church; at this point go straight onto Canadice Hill Road instead of County Road 37. Continue straight on Canadice Hill Road, taking the left fork at Ross Road, The parking lot will be on the left in 0.8 miles..

Springwater Trails’Winter Hike on Sunday, February 12, 2023 on the All Western Evergreen Nursery & Christmas Tree Farm (www.allwesterntrees.com) in beautiful Springwater will begin at 2 PM, for best experience come early around 1:45 PM to sign in and meet the leader for each group.

The Western Evergreen Tree Farm in Springwater, NY

You are invited to hike on private land near the Northwestern corner of Springwater on the 245 acre All Western Evergreen Nursery & Christmas Tree Farm owned by Katherine Humphrey and daughter, Jerrianne Scheiderich.  The entrance to the farm is at 6840 Liberty Pole Road (County Road 38, 1 mile from State Route 15 between Springwater and Webster’s Crossing).  It is well marked and is on the high side of the road.  There is parking to the left of the driveway opposite the Morton Building.  Please follow the orange cones and park facing Liberty Pole Road, and sign in.  Depending on the number attending, participants will be divided into Climbers (4 mile, fast pace), Tourists (3½ – 4 mile, moderate pace), and Naturalists (2-3 mile, slow pace).  Designated volunteer leaders will be leading each of the hikes.  Farm maps will be available so as to stay on the Farm.  Please do not wander onto the neighbor’s lands.  Please follow your snowshoe, ski, or hike leader (subject to the vagaries of the weather).  Select a person to be the sweep (last person to keep a count of who is hiking in the group) so as not to have anyone wander off or get lost along the way.

On the hike, expect winter conditions.  If there is enough snow, skis and snow shoes can be used.  Dress warmly and bring water, poles, and snacks, as desired.  Masks and social distancing are okay, if desired, along with all the usual precautions we’ve become accustomed to.  Most of us have had the recommended vaccines and booster shots.  Beware of stones, drifts, woodchuck holes, brush and stumps.  We will all meet at the farm parking lot behind the house at 6840 Liberty Pole Road, Springwater, NY 14560 (GPS might say Dansville, NY 14437).  Please be sure to take the Liberty Pole Road entrance at the start.

The Western Evergreen Tree Farm in Springwater, NY

Depending on weather conditions, those who want to ski will drive up to the entrance to the farm off Swartz Road following the ski leader.  The Skiers will crisscross the farm from the entrance on Swartz Road, across the tree plantations, through the woods, across the tillable strips to the largest trees on the farm in the Scott Hill triangle and return.  Those who wish are invited to come back to the parking lot behind the house to attend the dish-to-pass social.

It is about 1 mile across the farm in either direction; about 4 miles around the perimeter.  The Tourist leader will select a route around the perimeter to see the largest trees on the farm, including Concolor fir and Red Pine.  Katherine will lead the slow-paced group.  Both of these groups will start out from the parking lot behind the house.  The nursery beds and several exotic trees are near the residence.  There is a leisurely incline from 1200 to about 2000 feet to the top of the farm and back.

The Western Evergreen Tree Farm in Springwater, NY

The tree farm was started in 1968, making 2023 the 55th year of planting trees.  Participants may like to notice the many different species of Christmas trees planted and the animal tracks to ID.  Please stay on trails to avoid trampling seedlings that may not be seen under the snow. You will see hardwoods, a red pine forest (cathedral pines planted over 75 years ago), Christmas tree plantations (some Concolor fir trees up to 35 feet tall planted in the early 1980’s), a pond, wet areas and open fields and a gorgeous view of East Springwater from the hill tops.

After the hike, a choice of hot, home-made soups will be at the farm house and people can bring their dish-to-pass before or after the hike (refrigeration, range and sockets are available).  Depending on the size and comfort of the group, the garage area can be our shelter with the option of having the doors open.  You are invited to bring a dish to pass, a folding chair, your preferred drink and stay for the social at the house between 4:00 and 6:30 PM.

Directions to the Farm:

From the South or North if you come down State Route15A, Springwater hamlet, at the blinking light intersection of State Route 15A, drive north on State Route 15 for a couple of miles and take the second left onto County Road 38 (Liberty Pole Road).  Cross the first intersection (Carney Hollow Road, County Road 60) and in a tenth of a mile on the left high side of the Liberty Pole Road across from the 45 mile an hour sign, you will see the Tree Farm sign at 6840 Liberty Pole Road).  Turn left and follow the orange cones up to the parking area and park facing forward toward Liberty Pole Road for ease in leaving at the end of the day.

From Conesus or the North, on State Route 15, go south through Webster Crossing and go straight up the Carney Hollow Road (County Road 60).  At the first intersection, turn right onto County Road 38 (Liberty Pole Road) and go a tenth of a mile.  Near the 45 mile an hour sign you will see the Tree Farm entrance at 6840 Liberty Pole Road. Turn left onto the high side of the road, follow the orange cones and park facing forward toward Liberty Pole Road for ease in leaving at the end of the day.

From the West from Groveland Station, take County Road 1 to Scottsburg, straight onto County Road 1A to Stage Coach Road.  Go straight onto County Road 38 to 6840, where you will see the Tree Farm sign on the high side. Turn right and follow the orange cones and park facing forward toward Liberty Pole Road for ease in leaving at the end of the day

This Sunday we will explore the woods and fields overlooking Honeoye Lake on the west side, followed by a dish-to-pass social at the Affolter farm.  Meet at 5422 County Road 37, about 2 miles south of Route 20A and 2 miles north of Canadice Town Hall.  Park in the drive or on the road shoulder. Our hikes will take us up the ridge, through wooded trails and along gully rims.  Get a new scenic vista of the whole expanse of Honeoye Lake, from a new and different perspective. 

Climbers will head northwest from County Road 37 through the woods toward Curtis Road and Howcroft Road to make a loop of about 3.5 miles.  Tourists and naturalists will start out on the same route, but with a slower pace on the initial uphill climb, and will complete a smaller loop of about 2.5 miles.  Hiking conditions should be good, with light snow possible, but traction devices and poles are recommended in case of ice. 

Bring your favorite goodies along for our social at 5422 County Road 37. 

Directions:  

From Springwater, take Route 15A north 2.7 miles to a right on Johnson Hill Road.  In 1.1 miles, make a left on County Road 37. Continue northeast for 6.7 miles, including a turn to the left after Canadice Town Hall.  #5422 will be on your left, just before you leave the town of Canadice and about a half mile after you pass Hayward Hill Road and Jersey Hill Road. 

From Honeoye/Hemlock:  Take Route 20A east from Hemlock or west from Honeoye to the intersection with County Road 37. Go south approximately 1.9 miles. #5422 will be on the right, just past the Entering Town of Canadice sign.