Saturday, October 3
Lindsay Parsons Preserve, West Danby
Hike report by Nina F.
Twenty hikers, including two Ithaca Hikers first timers, met on a gorgeous fall day to hike the diverse, winding trails of Lindsay Parsons Preserve in West Danby. This hike has a variety of landscapes, including rolling fields, cattail-filled beaver ponds and long stretches of woodland. At the outset, we added an additional loop leaving from the southern end of the parking lot to walk around “the goldenrod field” to enjoy the pretty fall colors as well as ensure the hike was a solid two hours. From there we took the typical route that Ithaca Hikers follow, starting on the Blue trail at the northern end of the parking lot, past the entrance with the kiosk into the expansive fields. After walking through the fields, we stopped for a few minutes at Coleman Lake to enjoy the view. From there we traveled the red trail to the yellow trail, past another lovely pond, entering the woods and connecting with the orange trail. We crossed the railroad tracks that run through the preserve, and went up a brief incline to catch the purple trail, which makes a loop and deposits you back on the orange trail farther along. From there we crossed back over a different stretch of railroad tracks and continued through more woods until finally coming back out to the red trail. One point of interest was a fire hydrant in a seemingly very unlikely place (in the middle of a preserve) that caused us all to wonder what it was doing there. Finally, we followed the fields back to the blue trail and exited by the kiosk where we entered. The hike lasted two hours.
Sunday, October 4
Watkins Glen State Park
Hike report by Sarah S.
19 hikers and 2 dogs met at the corners of White Hollow and Punch Bowl Roads to hike the Finger Lakes Trail down to the Gorge Trail in Watkins Glen State Park. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect on this October morning. Leaves had started showing their colors, acorns were falling (hard hats, anyone?), and we started the hike with temperatures in the low 50s. Though chilly to start, the sun filtering through the trees quickly warmed us up. Many hikers donned extra orange, which was really helpful when making sure everyone was accounted for!
After the customary group photo, we headed North-East on Punchbowl road following the white blazes of the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT). After about 10-15 minutes we veered left along a nice forested trail (with lots of roots) along the gorge. We came upon a hidden picnic shelter and wound around a small marshy pond. This part of the FLT is beautiful, technical, and has a magical fairy like quality to it, especially in the early morning sunshine.
The FLT eventually came back out to meet a wider path which revealed the train trestle at the far end of Watkins Glen State Park. We were not fortunate enough to see a train cross today, but did hear the whistle of one as we were setting out (along with engine sounds from the Watkins Glen International Speedway). We marched on, pausing at the one mile bridge to work out logistics for our fellow hikers with dog friends since Dogs are not permitted on the Gorge Trail. As we wandered further down the path, we were mesmerized by miniature stone towers set upon a group of stone tables off to the right.
A short distance further, we encountered the Suspension Bridge on the left. We waited a few minutes for everyone to catch up, made our way across the bridge, turned right, and right again and filed onto the Gorge Trail.
We spent some time taking in the views and snapping pictures. There were even some Ithaca Hikers who had never been on the Gorge Trail before–what a treat to experience it for the first time! Some of us ruminated about how no matter how often we walk the trail, there’s always something new to experience, whether it’s the angle of sun, a new plant, or simply entering the trail from a different direction/spot than usual.
We traversed up stairs, walked through tunnels, behind Rainbow Falls and across more stone bridges and finally emerged from the Gorge at the One Mile Bridge, pausing again to make sure everyone was accounted for.
From the One mile bridge, we turned right, reuniting with the FLT and heading back the way we came. We retraced our steps back under the railroad trestle. Instead of taking the FLT back down along the Gorge, we stayed on the wider, more level path. We came out to an old parking lot at the end of Punch Bowl Road and finished the hike to an overcast sky in the low 60s. Strava reports we hiked a little over 5 miles with an elevation gain of 1316 feet.
Thank you to everyone that came for making this a great hike for a intrepid first-time leader!
Following the hike, 8 hikers met up at Grist Iron Brewing Company for some lunch. Little did we know, there was a Fall Festival in full swing, with food, helicopter rides, games, and local fare & wares. Two of our hikers bravely participated in a Steinholding contest! A full stein weighs about 5 lbs., and must be held at arms length, with no bend in the elbow for as long as possible without spilling.
