This Sunday we’ll be hiking the trails around Camp Cutler, the scout area between Gulick Road and Hunt Hollow Road in Naples.You can download the trail map from https://springwatertrails.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Camp-Cutler-Trails-791×1024.jpg Here’s what it looks like.

We’ll meet in the camp; there’s a notice shelter just inside the main entrance off Gulick Road at the edge of a large car park. We’ll divide into 3 groups, climbers, tourists and naturalists. All groups will start off together, walking north from the parking lot.

The trails are well marked with colored blazes except at the beginning, oddly enough! Once the blazes start up the trails are easy to follow, but always look for the next blaze! The trails tend to switch direction sharply, making it easy to wander off  and have to double back to find blazes again. The woods are well worn near where the scouts camp and congregate but become thicker and more natural further out. Likewise, the trails are broad and vehicle worn near the entrance, but narrower and grassy at the outer edges of the area.

All groups will start out together following the camp roads. At the first fork, stay to the left at the start of the red trail (no blazes yet). A short distance up the hill, you will see a sign for the Nature Trail.  Turn left off the road onto the blazed red trail.

The naturalists  will follow the red trail until it separates from the purple trail. They will turn right and keep following the red blazes. They will turn right on the green trail back to the starting point.

The  tourists will follow the red trail until it separates from the purple trail. They will turn right and keep following the red blazes all the way back to the starting point.

The climbers will follow the red trail until it separates from the purple trail. They will turn left following the purple blazes north to the blue trail, a well worn 4 wheeler trail. Turn right on the blue trail. all the way around the perimeter of the scout land. In total this is a 5 mile hike; if it’s a hot day, or time is running short there are several trails that cut straight back to the starting point. Each of these cuts take about 30 minutes.

The Social

We’ll have a lunch bag social again. There doesn’t seem to be anywhere comfortable to gather at the scout camp so we’ll go back to the Willow Dome at the Cummings Nature Center. See https://www.willowsvermont.com/diy-structures.html

Directions:

From Honeoye: take route 20A east through Honeoye to East Lake Road (CR 33). Turn right onto East Lake Road. (If coming from Bristol or points east, it’s a left onto East Lake Road).  Take the first left, staying on CR 33, then the first right onto Pinewood Hill which becomes Gulick Road. Travel about 7 miles to Camp Cutler on the left side. .

From Springwater: Head north on Rte. 15A toward Hemlock.  Just before Hemlock, turn right on Rte. 20A.  Follow Rt 20A to Honeoye and then follow the directions above.

From Naples: From the southern end of Naples, head west on Co Rd 36. Follow Co Rd 36 for 1.2 to the first right turn on Gulick Rd.  Follow Gulick for about 5 miles.  The parking area is on the right.

Directions to the Social from the Trailhead:

Via Gulick Rd:  Turn right out of the parking area on Gulick Road. Go about 2 miles to the Cummings Nature Center parking lot on the left. Go to the end of the parking lot, and enter the property on the right. You will see the bench grouping and the willow dome straight ahead.

You may remember that last March we had our annual meeting scheduled at the Springwater Center, but had to cancel it because of COVID – Yes, it was only 4 months ago – seems like years. Anyway, with outdoors gathering with social distancing or masks being allowed now, we have planned our 2020 Annual Meeting for this coming Sunday during the social. Please join us for Hiking and Kayaking on Hemlock Lake, followed by a social and annual meeting in the Reynolds Gull parking area.

All hikers and boaters will meet at 4:00 at the south boat launch on Hemlock Lake.  Boaters should plan to arrive 15 minutes early to have time to unload their boat.

After a group picture, each group (hikers and boaters) will select their leaders. It is recommended each group select two leaders to allow for different distances of the participants. Leaders will work to keep their group together through the hike.

The boaters will cross the lake and explore north along the shoreline. Hemlock Lake is 7 miles long and 0.5 miles wide. Planning on 2 hours on the lake, we will paddle north, then cross back to the east side at about 5:00 and follow the hikers back to the boat launch.

Meanwhile, hikers will head north on the old lake road that went the length of the lake a century ago. This trail is now a dead end, but hikers who want additional adventure may select a point to explore up the hill away from the lake.

Upon return to the boat launch, all hikers and boaters are invited to reconvene at the entrance to Reynolds Gull for a social and the Annual Meeting.  Bring your own snack and beverage and a chair to sit on. Move your car from the boat launch to the large lot on the west side of Rt 15A across from Reynolds Gull. Cross Rt 15A carefully. While you wait for the group to gather, a short hike up Reynolds Gull is available.  Please stay safe and do not climb the walls of the gorge.

Annual Meeting Agenda

1. Officer nominations
   President, Vice President, VP of Hiking, Treasurer and Secretary
2. Election of Officers
3. Sign up for 2020 memberships at the discounted price:
   Individual – $10
   Family – $15
   Cash or Checks accepted.

Directions

For those unfamiliar with Hemlock Lake, see the directions to the South Boat Launch. There is a large parking area at the start of the dirt road to the boat launch which we will use to park for the social. And there is a small parking lot across Rt 15A at the entrance to Reynolds Gull.

Hike Description 

This hike will be on a section of the Bristol Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail  (Map B3) and include the Bog Nature Trail Loop.  Most of the hike is in Urbana State Forest, Steuben County.

NOTE: The start time for this hike is 2:00 because it is September.  Hikes will return to 4:00 in May.

We will start from the trailhead on Bean Station Road.  Following the orange blazes, we will head south past the restored Covell Cemetery and the Evangeline Shelter then climb steadily uphill through a hemlock and oak woods to the state forest and onto the top of the plateau.  Tourists and naturalists will go as far as the bog observation deck and then back track to Bean Station Road (~3miles total).  Climbers will continue on past the overlook and follow the Bog Nature Trail Loop clockwise returning to Bean Station Road by way of the blue blazed side trail and then the main trail (~4.5 miles total).

Directions to Meeting Location

From Springwater: Head south on NY 15 to Wayland. Turn left onto NY 21, Turn left in N Cohocton to stay on 21 into Naples. Turn right onto NY- 53. Stay on NY-53  through Prattsburgh. Follow the directions below.

From Prattsburgh, take NY- 53 South for 2.6 miles to Bean Station Road.  Turn east on Bean Station Road at the site of a large white warehouse for onions. Go 2.6 miles to the yellow trailhead sign on the right (south) side of the road at a little footbridge over the roadside ditch.  Park on the north side of the road – this is important as this is a narrow road and parking on both sides could cause a traffic hazard. 

From Geneseo and Dansville: Take I-390 South to I-86East. In 1 mile,take exit 37 for NY-53. Turn left onto NY-53 and head north for 8.9 miles. Turn right onto Bean Station Road. Continue with the directions From Prattsburgh.

Social

The optional after hike social will be at Roots Cafe, 197 North Main Street, Naples.  We will try to be seated outside so bring a jacket or sweater.

FLTC Website Information on Huckleberry Bog

Huckleberry Bog

This Sunday we will return to the Schribner Valley to explore the fields and forests of the valley. We are looking forward to the beauty of the Fall season, from late wild flowers to the forest colors.  We will be looking for closeup and panoramic opportunities.

We have planned two hikes. The Climbers will head up to the top of the hill and will follow the top of the woods along the valley, enjoying the fall colors both up close and in the distance. The Tourists and Naturalists skip the steeper part of the hill, exploring the fields and creeks closer to the house.

Following the hikes, please join us for a social around the bonfire. Bring your own sandwich and beverage. We will provide the ingredients for s’mores. Depending on the weather, we may have some kayak races on the pond!

Directions: Our home is at the intersection of Giles Rd and Schribner Rd, one mile north west on Schribner off of Tabor’s Corners Rd in Springwater. Detailed directions are available here.