Wednesday, July 30
Bull Hill and Stark Roads, Newfield
Hike report by Jim
For the last July hike, I brought our hikers back to an area that we haven’t had a group hike at since I started leading our hikes. This is hike 57-13 on our list of hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-57.
Our past hikes here several years ago started elsewhere on Chafee Creek Rd that had a long, exposed road walk for the beginning and end of the hike. I pre-hiked today’s route last week to check out some alternate trailheads, but those were either very exposed to the sun or very seasonal road intersections
Today five hikers met for an out-and-back road walk on mostly shaded seasonal roads.
This hike started at the intersection of Bull Hill and Stark Roads in Newfield, and consisted of a hike down the gentle downhill seasonal portion of Stark Rd to the junction with Chaffee Creek RD.
This portion of the road passes through privately owned land until the bottom of Stark Rd, which passes through one of the county forests. Someone today mentioned that they didn’t know that the county owns forests; yes, it does! Theres a map on one of the county websites of these various county forests that I’ve downloaded in the past, but I couldn’t find the link to today. This initial downhill section takes about thirty minutes or so.
Once we reached Chaffee Creek Rd we made a right turn. The majority of this part of the hike consists of gentle rolling terrain, with Chaffee Creek Rd passing through a mix of privately owned land and portions of Newfield State Forest. We went over one small bridge that has a 1925 construction date, which sparked some interest in the group today. The route is still mostly in the shade, although the exposed sections of the road did grow more frequent in spots.
The group hiked until the usual turn-around time.
The return leg of the hike was uneventful.
Saturday, August 2
Finger Lakes Trail through Lower Treman and Post-Hike Summer Cookout
Hike report by Leigh Ann
This was as pretty a day as one could ask for in early August. Twenty hikers and three dogs on leash hiked in a big group east on the FLT from the Shady Corners parking lot. We exited the FLT at the CCC picnic ground and entered the south rim trail from there. After admiring the bottom of Lucifer Falls, we crossed Enfield Creek at the bottom of Lucifer Falls. Then returned to the cars via the (north) gorge trail and campground. At the start of the hike, the group voted to do the loop and come back in a little more than two hours rather than do an out-and-back hike that would bring us in at exactly two hours. Everyone arrived at the cars by noon.
Everyone I talked to on the hike was headed to the “after party” (hikers’ cookout) at Roger, Gunilla, and Christina’s. The turnout was big. Some hikers had been there since about 9 am to set up and get the Cornell chicken and corn going. Once things really got rolling, there were 40-50 people there at any given time, and at least 60 people came. People visited. Some were people new to the hikers and others have been with the hikers for a long time. People enjoyed the beautiful landscaping, refreshing pond, good potluck food, and pretty weather. It just felt good to be part of.
View Leigh Ann’s photo album for Saturday hike.
View Leigh Ann’s photo album for hikers’ cookout.
Sunday, August 3
Long Point State Park, Aurora
Hike report by Nina F.
Seventeen hikers and three dogs met at Long Point State Park in Aurora to hike the upper trails of the Park. This is not one of the club’s regular hikes. The weather was beautiful – mid 70s and sunny – and we wandered uphill through woods, including over small boardwalks and bridges, and back down on mowed paths through fields, crisscrossing a bit to ensure a full two hour hike. While we were too late in the summer for some of the Park’s gorgeous wildflowers, our timing was perfect for ripening blackberry bushes, and we made several stops along the way to enjoy picking and snacking on them.
A warm welcome to one first time hiker with the club.
Two hikers hopped in kayaks after the hike to enjoy Cayuga Lake as the day got warmer.
