Category Archives: The Trail

Categories related to the Springwater Trail

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Spring Woodland Wildflowers

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Adders Tongue appears first from forest floor

Adders Tongue appears first from forest floor

For about 15 years I have been silently observing the early woodland wildflowers that pop out of the forest floor sometime around mid April in the area of the “little finger lakes”.  I enjoy photographing the flowers in their growing stages, and identifying at least 5 new plants every year. So far my bank of knowledge includes about 15 plants.Three common woodland flowers you may observe on our hikes are Mayapple, Adders Tongue, and Trillium.   All can be seen in their early and mid stage in the next couple of weeks.

Not all Adders Tongue has flowers

Not all Adders Tongue
have flowers

Adders Tongue, Dog Toothed Violet, Fawn Lily, or Trout Lily leaves first appear peaking out of the forest floor through the dried leaves.  The leaves of the trout lily (so called because they appear about the same time as the trout)  are a greenish/brown mottled color. Some of the plants later produce a yellow flower which is the early food for the queen bumblebee.

Mayapple in early stage

Mayapple in early stage

Mayapples or Mandrakes appear second, curled up tightly, then unfold their leaves to what looks like a little umbrella. They are usually found in clusters, later develop a very large white flower, then a fruit.  About  mid July the oval fruit (which is located under and  inbetween the two leaves) turns a lemon-yellow color and is now ripe for eatting. It should be noted that all parts of the plant are poisonous except the fruit when it is  ripe. I believe i contacted the poison once on my arm while laying on the forest floor photographing them.

Trilliums are appearing now in their bud stage, and colors can range from Red(Birthroot), White, Pink, Purple, and Painted.  Trilliums are an endangered or threatened species and there are stiff fines associated with collecting any part of the plant on public lands or not receiving permission from private landowners.   They seem to like to grow in shady, rich moist woodland soils, along with wild leeks, and maple trees.

More wildflowers to come next week….

Young budding Trillium

Young budding Trillium

Red Trillium - Birthroot

Red Trillium – Birthroot

Mayapple unfolding to umbrella look

Mayapple unfolding to umbrella look

 

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Snowshoeing the Springwater Trail

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[singlepic id=64 w=320 h=240 float=left]The snow is deep and beautiful to snowshoe on up in the Springwater Mountains. The Springwater Trail is open to the public for weekday, weekend, or upcoming holiday winter recreation opportunities.

The current trail skirts an active maple syrup farm at Sugarbush Hollow in East Springwater and can be accessed just off Pardee Hollow Road and Coates Road.    The trail passes through farm fields that feel like the tundra this time of year at the top of the mountain and a sugarbush of over tapped 3000 sugar maple trees.  On warm winter and early spring days you can see and hear the sap flowing from the trees. The sugarhouse may be open, bring a lunch and warm up, and watch the maple men and women make maple syrup Feburary-April in the afternoons and evenings.

[singlepic id=65 w=320 h=240 float=right]The Springwater Trail has two winter access areas.  Park 1/2 way up Coates Road to  the snowplow area.  You can park along the side of the road but do not block the driveway on your right.    Continue to snowshoe east up Coates Road.  If you want a more difficult snowshoe travel an elevation climb of 200 ft. to the top of the hill on Coates Road to the trailhead sign on your right. Continue down and across the field on the CoyoteTrail and watch for the blue blazes that drop down into the Sugarbush. Follow the blue blazes for about 2 miles to  Pardee Hollow Road just past the pond to the south of the Sugarhouse for a pick up location. Estimate time 1 1/2 hours.   If you would like an easier access route off Coates Road, follow the orange blaze just past the snowplow area on your right.  This orange trail connects with the blue trail in the sugarbush area and ends at the same location. Estimate time one hour.

The other winter access area can be accessed off Pardee Hollow Road.  You can park at the sugarhouse, walk south past the sign and turn right on our West Trail.  This trail is a little more difficult with two 200 ft. elevation climbs to the top of the mountain.  It passes through a wild apple orchard, black cherry and sugar maple plantation, crosses a field and then drops down through a dense forest and skirts another sugarbush area.  Follow the blue blazes, turn right on the orange blazes for a continuous loop back to Pardee Hollow Road and the Sugarhouse.  If you wish you can  follow the blue blazes to the south of the white house for a pick up location on Tabors Corners Road. Estimate time two hour.

The view from the top of the return route.

The view from the top of the return route.

The Springwater Trail is a moderate to difficult trail with it’s elevation climbs and snowshoers should be prepared. Snowshoes can expect colder weather at elevations of 1800 – 2200 ft. and wind at the top of the mountain.  Please stay on the trail, follow our rules, and do not touch the maple lines or equipment which will be actively working.  For directions to the Springwater Trail contact us at springwatertrails.org.

 

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Trail Conditions – Updated Dec 29, 2012

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All trails in the Springwater area are snow covered with 16 to 20 inches of snow.  Dress appropriately.  Snowshoes are highly recommended.

Wheaton Hill Trails: The Springwater Trails hiking group will be walking and doing maintenance on the Wheaton Hill trails from 2:00 to 4:00 on December 30th.

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Tools for Trail Maintenance

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The tools we need on a trail maintenance work day depend on where we are working and the tasks we have to do.  The following list comes from the Finger Lakes Trail Conference’s guide for trail maintenance.  They are appropriate when we are cleaning up an existing trail and want to remove plants that have fallen or grown into the trail.

Equipment for trail maintenance:

  • Cheap folding pruning saw – just for cutting small trees at ground level.
  • Large bow saw (24″ – 30″) or folding backpacking Sven saw or collapsible 26” bucksaw, capable of cutting a 5-6” log.  This is critical on state land where we cannot use a chain saw.
  • Small pruning shears (loppers) – much handier to use than the long-handled kind, are very useful, particularly for branches within easy reach. Anvil type is usually better than scissors type.
  • Weed-whackers – Bow-type hand swung whackers (with double-edged blade and supported bow shaped frame) are very good for this type work. Or a power string trimmer or scythe.
  • Work gloves – to protect your hands from blisters and thorns.  These are critical if there are roses in the area.
  • Plastic bag – for litter removal.
  • Long-handled pruning loppers – may be inconvenient to carry, but they may be critical for reaching the inner stems on the roses. Anvil-headed loppers are very good for this type work.