This Sunday’s hike will be on a tree farm on Schribner Rd, Wayland. In 1932, the original lot was used primarily for sheep grazing and growing hops. Many acres were barren, eroded land with only 2 small woodlots and hedgerows. Over the years, more acres were added and many thousands of various tree species were planted. Today it is still being maintained on the DEC forest management program.

Hikers will be following mostly logging roads or grass trails around ponds. There are many springs and the water table is high, so hiking routes will be wet in places. Waterproof footwear is highly recommended. Because of bow season or poor weather conditions, wearing a bit of hunter orange if you have it would make you more visible (although there should not be any hunters on the property today). Dogs must be on-leash at all times and well behaved.

Please arrive by 1:50 for parking instructions and sign-in by the camper trailer.

Climbers: From the top of the driveway, ascend the hill following the ORANGE survey tape markers. Please ignore any orange ground flags you see along the hike, as those mark seedling trees. At the intersection at the top of the first hill, go straight across and continue following orange tape down Quarry Rd to an Adirondack style lean-to at the bottom. From here head to the large wood pile, then bear right. This leads to a field which you will cross. Follow this trail to the right around the bend and turn left at the flagged curve. This takes you downhill to the Cohocton River.

Those who wish can climb the steep grade back up to the field, or backtrack along the field. Hike back to the first corn field but turn right this time. Follow it around the end and turn right into the woods at the orange flags. This trail goes up and over a hardwood ridge; down the other side, across a stream and up again to an open field at the top of the hill with a good view.

Proceed straight across to the other side and continue to follow orange tape down the other side, and then up again to a bench with a very nice view over a red pine clear cut. You will now follow both orange and green markers back to the starting point.

Tourists: The first section is a loop trail of about a mile. From the top of the driveway, ascend the hill up and turn left. Follow the GREEN survey tape straight past a small spring and pond on the left. Go past a neighbor’s property marker on the right and follow markers up and across the hill. You should see some trees marked with blue tape that are scheduled for removal. Then you will come back down on a smaller trail to the first road and back to where you started. The next section will pass straight uphill, merging with the orange markers, and at the intersection, go straight across. Green markers will then split with orange, with green turning left through hardwoods. You will pass a large woodpile on your left. When you come to the open fields, follow the green flags to the left. This will take you to the bench with a nice view where the climbers (orange tape) will also be hiking. Follow both orange/green back to starting point.

Naturalists: Across the road there are ponds with grass trails. Because it is extremely wet behind the main pond, we will avoid that area in getting to the woods. Walk across the lower field to the south (left) to the bottom corner. Turning right over a small culvert bridge will bring you into the woods. Here you have two choices: you can either go though the old spruce forest bearing left at the first intersection as far as is comfortable OR go a short distance around to the left where there is another pond. There is a small trail around the back of this pond and then a mowed lane up to the road where the original farm house is located.

Following the hike we will have a social around a campfire with hot-dogs. Please bring something to sit on, a dish to pass, and your beverage of choice (or you can make a small $5 donation to the social fund).

Directions:
From Hemlock and Springwater: ***Please note that most mapping programs will direct you there via Strutt St. and then some very poor, seasonal dirt roads. The following directions will keep you on paved roads and bring you to the property from Tabors Corner Rd.

From Hemlock, travel south 10 miles and take a sharp left turn onto Wheaton Hill Rd.
From the flashing light in Springwater, travel north 3 miles and turn right onto Wheaton Hill Rd.
Then proceed 3.3 miles and turn right at the stop sign onto Wetmore Rd for 1.2 miles. Turn right onto Tabors Corners Rd for 3.5 miles then another right onto Schribner Road (just past a Nate McMurray sign). Hike parking will be .5 miles on the right.

From Wayland: At the intersection of NY 15 and NY 21 in Wayland, travel east on NY 21 N for 3 miles and (at the Bowles Corners sign) turn left onto Tabors Corners Rd. for 2 miles. Turn left onto Schribner Rd and continue .5 miles to parking on right.

From Naples: Take NY 21 South, turning right through the small town of N. Cohocton, then approx 3.8 miles to the Bowles Corners sign. Turn right turn onto Tabors Corners Rd (Steuben CR 37) for 2 miles. Turn left onto Schribner and continue .5 miles to parking on right.