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 South side of the road.  There is ample parking behind the house where the wholesale trees are loaded out. The hike this Sunday, February 9^th will begin shortly before 2 PM.  Arrive early for instructions regarding routes for the three skill levels: Climbers, Tourists, and Naturalists.  Katherine will have maps of the plantations for the volunteer leaders to aid in hike path directions, which can be modified by the leader as desired.

On the hike, expect winter conditions.  If there is enough snow, skis and snow shoes can be used.  Wear winter hiking apparel and bring water, walking sticks, and snacks, as desired.  Beware of stones, woodchuck holes, boughs laying on the ground, and stumps.  Leashed or unleashed dogs that mind their masters are welcome too!  We will crisscross the farm from behind the residence to Story Road, Swartz Road, and/or Liberty Pole Road.  The nursery beds and several exotic trees are near the residence and on the way up through the woods.  There is a leisurely incline of from 1200 to about 2000 feet.  The tree farm was started in 1968, making 2020 the 52^nd year of planting trees.  Participants may like to notice the many different species of Christmas trees planted and compete in an ID quiz in the shop at the end of the hike.

Crossing the farm from one end to the other will encompass as many miles as the number of times anyone wants to crisscross, as it is at least 1 mile from road to road.  The roads that surround the farm are Liberty Pole Road, Story Road, Swartz Road, and Carney Hollow Road.  You will find hardwoods, a red pine forest (cathedral pines planted over 75 years ago), Christmas tree plantations (some with solar powered electrified fences that are turned off for the hike) with field roads traversing the land, and rented open tillable fields last planted to winter wheat or mowed as they are in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program due to the steep lay of land and need to keep 2 feet of top soil from eroding.

The after hike social will be at the farm residence where a dish-to-pass social will be anchored by delicious home-farm prepared soups.  If you wish, bring food/beverage as refrigeration and ranges are available for keeping items cold or hot.  For those who would like to know more about Christmas tree farming, Katherine is willing to share tree culturing and marketing techniques used at this farm.

Directions:  If using GPS, use address of 6840 Liberty Pole Road, Dansville, NY  14437 so you do not end up in the middle of one of the fields and call 585-669-2659 or 585-737-5205 for directions if you get lost.

From Springwater at the blinking light and intersection of 15A and 15, take 15 North to County Road 38 (Liberty Pole Road), the second left (West).  Stay on Liberty Pole Road for almost a mile.  The farm will be the third residence on the high side of Liberty Pole Road after you cross Carney Hollow Road intersection.  Please follow the orange cones in the driveway to the parking area behind the residence facing the Liberty Pole Road so as to easily pull out after dark, unless a handicapped spot is needed near the people door to the shop that says “Welcome, Come In”, which is the preferred door to enter the residence.

Check here for additional directions to the hike.

This Sunday Hike is a replacement for the Finger Lakes Trail series we have been doing this fall. The combination of the distance to the FLT and the winter weather has reduced the interest in this series. We may continue later in the spring after seasonal roads reopen. But meanwhile, we are going to make an effort to visit sections of the Genesee Valley Greenway that Springwater Trails hasn’t seen.  If there is snow, I am hoping this trail will be more appropriate than the FLT for easy cross country skiing.

In December, Wendy led a hike headed north from Cuylerville to Piffard. So this week we will continue north, starting in Piffard. If the snow listens to the weather man, we should have fresh snow Saturday and light snow Sunday afternoon. Check outside and bring your snowshoes, skis or winter boots.

All participants will start at the parking area in Piffard, and will head north toward York Landing Rd about 3 miles away.  Skiers will turn around at York Landing and return to the starting point. Hikers and snowshoers will probably prefer to limit the distance to about 3 to 4 miles and therefore will end at York Landing where cars will be staged. (See below). Naturalists can watch the time and turn around to return to the cars if it is determined that conditions will not permit them to reach York Landing.

If you are willing to help stage cars, please arrive at the Piffard parking lot at 1:30 so we can shuttle cars to York Landing. Please send an email to [email protected] so that I know who to expect.

Following the hike, we will head to the Yard of Ale to warm up with a pint and dinner.

Directions:

From Geneseo: Head north on Main St, then turn left on Court St, then at the bottom of the hill turn right on NY-63. In 2.3 miles, the road crosses the Greenway and parking is on the left next to the Yard of Ale. To get to York Landing Rd, continue west on NY-63 for 0.4 miles. Turn right on River Rd.  Turn right on York Landing Rd in 2.7 miles. The parking is at the end of the road in 0.1 mile.

From Springwater: Take NY 15 north. After the curve at the top of the hill, turn left onto Liberty Pole Rd (CR 38). The road changes its name and number a couple of times, but keep going to the end. Turn right onto NY-63. Stay on NY-63 for 13.3 miles to Piffard. Parking is on the left next to the Yard of Ale.

From Wayland: Head south on NY 15/21 to I-390. Turn right onto I-390. Take exit 7 and turn right onto NY-408. Continue straight onto NY-63. Stay on NY 63 for 7 miles to Piffard. Parking is on the left next to the Yard of Ale.

From Honeoye: Head west on NY 20A. Turn right onto Big Tree Rd and continue for 6.9 miles into Livonia. Turn left on 20A and continue for 8.7 miles into Geneseo. Continue straight on Mary Jemison Dr by the college, then turn right onto NY 63. In 3 miles, parking is on the left next to the Yard of Ale.

CANCELED.  Both the Winterfest and the Springwater Hike scheduled for Sunday, January 12, 2020 have been CANCELED due to high winds and wet conditions. We will try to reschedule.

Our mid-January hike will be at Mendon Ponds Park, coinciding with Monroe County’s annual Winterfest.  The park will be teeming with cold-weather fun activities between 11 and 3, including refreshments and programs on nature and winter sports for kids and adults.  This time around we will hike the Devil’s Bathtub and West Esker parts of the park, as well as the popular Birdsong Trail near the Nature Center (good for chickadee-feeding).

We will meet at 1:45 at the Devil’s Bathtub parking area, a short drive inside the Pond Road entrance off Route 65/Clover Street, on the other side of the road from the Nature Center.  If the upper Devil’s Bathtub lot is blocked off, park at the base of the hill and walk up. We will all begin by hiking down the stairs (with railings) and into the Tub, and then head north along a valley with a series of smaller kettle ponds and wetlands.  The Tourists and Naturalists will peel off across the ridge and over to a trail along Deep Pond, passing the cars again after .6 miles, and heading south past the Bathtub and on to the Grasslands Trail, crossing Pond Road to loop around the Birdsong Trail and return, for a total of 2.6 miles. Climbers will venture farther up the Bathtub Valley and return on the ridge part of the West Esker Trail loop, continuing to the Grasslands and Birdsong Trail for a total of 3.8 miles.

Trail conditions are likely to be muddy due to rain in the prior few days, so poles and traction devices are recommended. Bring rain gear if the forecast is for rain between 2 and 4 Sunday.

Come earlier if you’d like to take advantage of the refreshments at the East and West Lodges, or the free coffee and hot chocolate and Wild Wings birds of prey at the Nature Center. Other free winter activities – dog sleds, orienteering, geocaching, winter equipment demonstrations, fossils and minerals, etc – are scheduled throughout the park;  see  https://www2.monroecounty.gov/parks-winterfest And here’s a park map link: map here

Social:  Afterwards please join us for the social at the American Hotel at the center of Lima (7304 East Main St.. Lima), renowned for their huge selection of homemade soups as well as sandwiches, beverages and other hearty fare. You can see the full menu at https://americanhoteloflima.com/menu/

Directions:

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 pass the Brewery Pub and Grill on the right at the intersection with 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 park entrance. The Devil’s Bathtub parking area is in .25 miles, on the left.

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 Devil’s Bathtub parking area is in .25 miles, on the left.

From Rochester: Exit I 590 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 Devil’s Bathtub parking area is in .25 miles, on the left.

Directions to the Social:  From the Devil’s Bathtub lot, go right back to Route 65/Clover Street. Make a left and go 4.4 miles to the village center of Honeoye Falls. Make a right on Main Street and continue about a mile out of town to the intersection with 15A. Make a left on 15A and proceed 2.3 miles to Lima. The American Hotel is at the intersection of Route 15A and Routes 5 & So (Main Street Lima). You can’t miss it.