Hello Hikers!
Wed Oct 20
Hike report by Jim. Photos by shesse/Tiger
Lower Treman SP from Route 13
18 hikers and 4 dogs met in the FLT parking area at the 13/34/96 split at Shady Corners.
Crossing under the route 13 bridge, traffic noise behind us dropped quickly as we may our way on the FLT as it passed through the camping area of lower RH Treman State Park.
Climbing the first couple of minor hills we soon found ourselves on the service road that leads to the YMCA pavilion. There we found a work crew starting their day; this particular work crew is tasked with dealing with some of the invasive species that are threatening our local forests.
Continuing on the FLT the group was soon at the YMCA pavilion, where a few hikers opted to break off from the main group and complete their own shorter hike.
The main body of hikers pressed on and were soon on the Rim Trail, which we followed to the base of Lucifer Falls. Crossing the wooden bridge there we took the Gorge Trail to lower Robert Treman and our vehicles. Total hike time was about fifteen extra minutes beyond our normal hike duration, which was not unexpected after the last couple of times we hiked this particular route.
It was a sunny day, and temperatures were perfect for being out on the trail. There were a moderate number of other hikers using the trails today. One hiker in our group reported to me post-hike that their canine hiking companions had picked up some ticks, so we were not alone on the trail.
I enjoy this stretch of the Gorge Trail and wanted to hike it a final time before the onset of the winter season forces the trail closures. One item of note for this particular hike is that a destroyed wooden bridge and some collapsed stone retaining wall sections on the Gorge Trail portion of the route have been repaired since our last hike here in early August. Some minor trail flooding at a single point on the Gorge Trail was easily skirted without incident.
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Sat Oct 23
Hike report by Nancy L
Watkins Glen SP
13 hikers met where the Finger Lakes Trail crosses Whites Hollow Rd and there is a blocked access road to the park, called “Punch Bowl Rd”. The FLT follows Punch Bowl Rd a short distance and then cuts off toward a feeder creek to Watkins Glen gorge. A short distance along the trail, we came to a nice pond, probably the Punch Bowl. In that spot is a large, but seemingly unused, pavilion which we might be able to use for a picnic get-together. From there we followed the Finger Lakes Trail along the creek until it joined up with an old dirt road which proceeded smoothly downhill. It passes under a very impressive, and active, railroad bridge. Then we proceeded more steeply downhill until we reached a stairway down to a bridge over the Watkins Glen Gorge to the Gorge trail. There were many people in the gorge, so some of our group headed back while the rest explored the dramatic geology of the gorge. On the way back we were able to return to the cars more quickly by taking the road-like portion of the FLT and then staying on various parts of the Punch Bowl Road to return to our cars.
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Photos by Randy
You can see Randy’s complete photo album here
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Photos by Cian
You can see Cian’s complete photo album here
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Sun Oct 24
Hike report by Jim
Deputron Hollow Road, East Danby
22 hikers and 7 dogs met on Marsh Rd Town of Danby for a walk of Deputron Hollow Rd.
Temps were cool, with occasional breezes, and the sun was constantly trying to come out from behind cloud cover.
The hike starts out on the paved portion of Marsh Rd; by the time it turns to dirt and then meets the seasonal portion of Deputron Hollow is when the hike seems to truly start for me.
After turning onto Deputron Hollow the group was greeted by several horses in their field; I had failed to anticipate that they would be out and had brought no carrots.
The group encountered hiker Cian, who had walked up Deputron Hollow RD from his residence to meet us.
Soon enough Deputron Hollow turns and begins a gradual descent towards Coddington Rd.
We encountered one or two other people out walking their dog, or residents of the area working in their yards. Otherwise the group had the road to ourselves. Unlike most other parts of the county the forest was still in nearly a solid green as we walked through it, a fact that inspired much conversation.
Reaching Coddington Rd the group turned around and made its way back to Marsh Rd and our vehicles without any incident.
Welcome to first time hiker Amy, who joined the group for her first hike today.
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Photos by shesse/Tiger
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Photos by Cian
You can see Cian’s complete photo album here