Saturday, August 23
Mundy Wildflower Gardens (Forest Home) to Beebe Lake Loop, Ithaca
Hike report by Nina F.
Twenty-seven hikers and two dogs met at Mundy Wildflower Gardens on a gorgeous day for a diverse and beautiful hike. We started by walking through Mundy Wildflower Gardens along a tranquil, shady path, left the Wildflower Gardens and crossed Judd Falls Road over to Cornell Botanic Gardens, where we made a loop around the stunning herb garden, seemingly still in full bloom, and from there to Beebe Lake and Sackett Bridge. We made a photo stop at the observation deck overlooking Fall Creek Cascades, walked around Beebe Lake and enjoyed the larger waterfall as we crossed the Beebe Dam Bridge on the West end of the Lake. From there we walked through the Forest Home neighborhood, former home of Pearl S. Buck, author of The Good Earth.
We spent the second half of the hike walking though F.R. Newman Arboretum – voted the #1 college arboretum – where we saw two young fawns, passed the sculpture garden, crossed a lovely marsh and wound our way back to our starting point.
Sunday, August 24
Black Diamond Trail southbound from Kraft Road
Hike report by Margaret F.
17 hikers and no dogs met at the intersection of Kraft Rd. and the Black Diamond trail on 8/24 for an out and back hike. 1 new hiker joined the group. The weather was warm and sunny and the trail very conducive to conversation along the way. The fastest hikers reported 7 miles round trip! Margaret F. as hike leader completed 5 miles in the middle of group.
