Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
There will not be any hike this Sunday. We hope many of you will be enjoying your own favorite hike with your family or friends. We will see you next year (next Sunday) for our traditional 1st day hike at Canadice Lake.
Oatka Creek Park is a hidden gem of the Monroe County Park System, a smaller property perfect for a fall hike or winter ski.
Highlights include mature woods, isolated meadows, beautiful view of Oatka Creek, and the visible remains of the gypsum mines, which operated in the hamlet of Garbutt until the 1930’s.
https://www.townofwheatland.org/single-post/gypsum-mining-in-garbutt
We will be hiking the perimeter of the park using portions of all of the named trails, slightly over 4 miles of rolling hills. The Naturalists may shorten the hike by skipping the steep-ish red trail loop and heading straight back to the main park at mile 3.
We will meet in the upper parking lot just off Quaker Road as the lower lot is smaller and may be used by those renting the pavilion.
Social afterward at RUSH CREEKSIDE INN, 6071 E Henrietta Rd, Rush, NY 14543
Directions: From Interstate 390, take Exit 9 (Rush) and go west on Route 251. After crossing the Genesee River, go straight ahead on Quaker Road when Route 251 turns north toward Scottsville. In about 2.25 miles Quaker Road will end in a T at the park entrance. Go straight ahead to the first parking lot.
Alternative from Springwater: Take Route 15 north to Route 251 intersection. Go west, cross river, keep going straight ahead on Quaker Road to park entrance.
Come join us for a December hike up and down the hills around Schribner Rd. We will all meet at the Hopkins House. From there, we will split into two or three groups to enjoy both views from the top of the hills and enjoy the streams and woods at the bottom of the valley.
The Climbers will cross the road and head up through a red pine forest to the potato fields at the top on the hill. From there, we will head down to the stream and cross over in a white pine woods. After some meandering, we will return to the house for a dish to pass social.
The Tourists will wall up through an open field and then cross the road and head uphill to another potato field. From there we will head back down to the road and enjoy some walking around the house and back to the social.
Meanwhile, the Naturalists will follow the tourists up across the field, but will turn left staying on the south west side of the road. After crossing the stream at a third location, they will walk up through pine plantations to the hardwood forest. From there, they will head down to the stream again, up by a couple of old cabins and back to the house.
Following the hike, everyone is invited to join an optional social. Please bring a dish to pass, and your beverage of choice (or make a $5 contribution to the social fund). Plates and “silver”ware and coffee will be provided, thanks to Char’s care of the social funds.
Directions: It is December, so Giles and Schribner roads are closed west of our house. Even if there is no snow, you definitely do not want to try Schribner Rd from Strutt St. If you make it through, your car will not thank you.
Here are good winter directions. They will bring you in from Tabors Corners Rd and the house will be one mile up Schribner on the left. There is a mailbox by the driveway and a sign post. If you come to the intersection of Giles and Schribner, you have gone about 10 feet too far. Turn around and park on the road in the intersection If you choose to park in the driveway, pull in and turn around so you can drive out without backing up in the dark.
From Springwater: Head north on Rt 15A from the light in Springwater. Take the first right on Wheaton Hill Rd (Co Rd 16). Turn right on Wetmore Rd at the stop sign at the top of the hill. At the end of Wetmore, bear right on Tabors Corners Rd. After 3.5 miles turn right on Scribner Rd. The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of the intersection..
From Wayland: From Rt 15, head east on Rt 21 toward North Cohocton for 3 miles. Turn left on Tabors Corners Rd (Steuben Co Rd 37). After 2 miles, turn left on Schribner Rd (the second left). The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of the intersection.
From Honeoye: From Rt 20A, head south on Ontario Co Rd 37. At Canadice, continue straight ahead on Canadice Hill Rd as Co Rd 37 turns right. When Ross Rd bears to the right, stay on Canadice Hill Rd straight ahead past Harriet Hollister Spencer Park. At the Springwater Town Line Rd, continue straight ahead on Wetmore Rd. Stay on Wetmore up over the hill to the end (total distance from 20A to the end of Wetmore Rd is 10.7 miles). Bear right on Tabors Corners Rd. Turn right on at 3.5 miles on Scribner Rd. The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of the intersection.
From the East Lake Rd in Honeoye or From Naples: Rather than traveling north to reach 20A or Co Rd 37, hikers from east of Honeoye Lake may go south to Ontario Co Rd 36 and follow Co Rd 36 to Naples. Turn right on Rt 21 south. Turn right to stay on Rt 21 for 4.5 miles to N Cohocton. Turn right to stay on Rt 21 towards Wayland. After 3.8 miles turn right on Tabors Corners Rd (Steuben Co Rd 37). After 2 miles, turn left on Schribner Rd (the second left). The driveway is the 2nd driveway on the left one mile up Schribner Rd and about 10 feet before the intersection with Giles Rd. Turn around at the intersection and park on the west side of the intersection.
Sunday October 9 we will visit East Hill Farm, home of the Rochester Folk Art Guild, for a hike across their 350-acre hilltop farm and woodlot and a tour of their craft workshops. The Guild is a community of craftspeople, some resident and some visiting, and the weekend of October 8-9 is their annual Fall Open House and Apple Festival, a celebration of the season with a fresh pressed cider, early pears for sale, and demonstrations at the pottery, wood, weaving and graphic arts studios. Admission is free, and the event runs until 5 PM. See https://www.folkartguild.org/events/6650/ for more details on the festival; come early to enjoy the tours and demonstrations before the hike, and stay afterwards for shopping at the Gallery and our social. If you come early, lunch food will be available from the Guild as long as it lasts – homemade bread, salad, squash soup and desserts. This is a no-dogs event.
Follow parking directions at the site – 1445 Upper Hill Road, Middlesex (directions below). We will convene at 1:45 at the side of the East Hill Gallery, the first building on the left as you come in the driveway.
Climbers will make a circuit of about 4 miles through the Guild’s fields and woods, passing a mix of farm buildings and Guild-designed and built structures, a pond and sauna, a spruce grove, and the “Golden Valley”, named for its spectacular fall color and views to the east.
Tourists/Naturalists will make a shorter loop through the same terrain. Trails are gently sloped and well cleared, but grass is ankle-deep in many areas, so bring good hiking footwear and tick protection.
Social – Bring your own snack or supper to enjoy on the grounds of East Hill Farm, where benches will be provided at the cider press site. Cider and pears will be in abundance; bring along whatever else you’d like. This is not a formal dish-to-pass social – more of a bring-your-own picnic, to minimize the complexity in the context of a larger event.
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. Turn right on Upper Hill Road and go 1.5 miles. East Hill Farm will be on your left, at #1445. Park on the road shoulder and walk in the driveway to the Gallery building, the white house on your left.
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 and then an immediate right to continue on 364. Go up the hill, one mile. Turn right on Upper Hill Road and go 1.5 miles. East Hill Farm will be on your left, at #1445. Park on the road shoulder and walk in the driveway to the Gallery building, the white house on your left.