On Sunday Feb. 21st we’ll return to East Hill Farm, home of the Rochester Folk Art Guild, to ski and snowshoe the trails of their 350-acre hilltop farm and woodlot. The Guild is a community of craftspeople, producing fine quality handmade products in wood, pottery, fabrics, paper, toys, books and more. For more information about the Guild see:   https://www.folkartguild.org/about-us/ee .  

Please arrive by 1:45 to get your equipment organized for a 2 PM start.  Come into the driveway at 1445 Upper Hill Road, Middlesex (directions below) and bear left to park behind the Gallery Shop or by the Boat Shop. We will convene in front of the Boat Shop, the first building on the right as you come in the driveway.

Note on conditions: The snow is over a foot deep with some drifting and a light crust on top, but there are ski/snowshoe tracks to follow, which will make for a fine outing. Trails have a moderate slope, nothing very steep, but these trails are not groomed, so be prepared for an uneven surface. We recommend skis or snowshoes to keep you in the upper part of the snow pack; hiking just in boots will make for a very strenuous afternoon. 

Skiers will head south through the Guild’s farm and neighboring properties, past a pond and sauna, through a spruce grove, and looping through woods and mowed fields, passing an eclectic array of residential buildings, workplaces and gathering places, designed and built by community members over their 50 years of occupancy at the East Hill Farm.  Total distance will be about 2-3 miles, depending on the conditions and energy levels; we may be breaking new trail in some sections.  Snowshoers will start out on the same path, but make a shorter loop through the woods and fields, about 2 miles.

Social:  There is no planned social gathering due to the pandemic guidelines, but the Pottery Studio will be open after the hike (no more than 10 people at a time) if you would like to tour or shop. A rest room will be available in the Gallery building. 

Directions: from Springwater/Naples: Take Route 15 south to Wayland and Route 21 east/north to Naples. Turn right on Route 245 opposite Bob’s and Ruth’s Restaurant, at the north end of the village. Follow Route 245 north to Middlesex, about 8.75 miles.  Turn right on Route 364 and go up the hill, one mile. Take the second right turn on Upper Hill Road and go 1.5 miles.  East Hill Farm will be on your left, at #1445. Come in the driveway, past the Gallery building, and bear left to park behind the Gallery Shop or to the front or rear of the Boat Shop. 

From Rochester and points north: Head to Routes 5 and 20 via Bloomfield or Canandaigua. At the east edge of the City of Canandaigua (first light after Wegmans/Post Office), turn south on Route NYS Route 364 (a.k.a. East Lake Road).  Follow Route 364 south 12.5 miles to Middlesex, where 364 turns to the east and you will make a left onto Route 245/364 and then an immediate right to continue on 364.  Go up the hill, one mile. Take the second right turn on Upper Hill Road and go 1.5 miles.  East Hill Farm will be on your left, at #1445. Come in the driveway, past the Gallery building, and bear left to park behind the Gallery Shop or to the front or rear of the Boat Shop.