Wednesday, May 14
Finger Lakes Trail from Carson Rd to Woodchuck Hollow Lean-To, Cortland County
Hike report by Jim
Seven hikers met on Carson Rd in Cortland County for a lollipop hike of the FLT through Tuller Hill State Forest to the Woodchuck Hollow Lean-To. This is hike # 60-6 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-60.
Today’s hike took place entirely on FLT map sheet M19, available for purchase in paper or electronic formats at: https://fingerlakestrail.org/…/purchase-individual-maps/. Sale of the map sheets helps to defray the on-going costs associated with trail maintenance
As could be expected from recent weather, the group ran into a fair amount of mud on this hike. Weather forecasts probably kept some hikers away from this hike, as rain was forecast. While temps were a little cool, we only experienced some light drizzle towards the very end of the hike, with accompanying higher wind gusts. The remainder of the hike was actually enjoyable in terms of weather conditions. We did have some water to deal with on some of the creek crossings, but if I had to guess those levels have dropped from what they were a week ago.
One issue we had to deal with repeatedly was the number of blow downs. I classify fallen trees into one of three categories: step -overs, crawl-overs and bushwhack-around. The group encountered all three types today, and I feel that it did slow down the group a bit as we had to deal with the crawl-overs and bushwhack-arounds both coming and going during the hike. I did submit a trail conditions report to the FLTC and reached out to FLTC sawyer Erin Potter about conditions.
The walk to the lean-to was otherwise quite enjoyable, as the FLT passes through some nice stands of trees and across and along some enjoyable streams and creeks. While things are well along in terms of leafing out, the line-of-sight through the forest is still very good
The hikers eventually reached the Woodchuck Hollow lean-to, where we paused to make a journal entry and take a group photo.
Beyond the lean to we found that the FLT has had a recent re-route due to a significant number of blow-downs. When I reached out to Erin Potter she advised that she had been part of that project, which clearly involved a lot of sawyer work to keep the FLT passable. What the sawyers did was to re-route the FLT along the former blue-blazed side trail, apparently leaving many of the blow downs on the former FLT footpath where they lay. near the forest service road the FLT continues northerly while the blue blazed trail continues along its usual easterly direction back to the FLT. This blue blazed trail did have one fairly large blow-down tree that will need to be addressed by sawyers.
The group took the FLT back to Carson Rd without incident.
For those who are tracking their FLT miles towards an FLT50 or FLT100 patch, today’s hike included 3.6 FLT miles.
Saturday, May 17
Woodard Road east into upper Robert Treman SP, Enfield
Hike report by Leigh Ann
Nineteen hikers and no dogs met where the FLT crosses Woodard Road. It was a great Saturday morning for a varied hike. We headed east across Butternut Creek and turned right on Butternut Creek Road for a lovely walk along the creek. Then we turned left on Van Ostrand Road for a pleasant country road walk over to Thomas Road. After turning left onto Thomas road, we had open meadows and panoramic views until we entered the woods again at the other end of Butternut Creek Road. We walked down to where the FLT comes in and turned right on that to follow Butternut Creek Gorge over to the end of Thomas Road through thick pines. Then we took Thomas Road into the park and joined the rim trail going east. After stopping to admire Lucifer Falls at the overlook, we turned around and headed toward the upper parking lot, then took the first quarter mile of the Gorge Trail to end up exactly across from the overlook where we had just been. It was a satisfying pincer move on the creek without knee-crushing stairs. After returning to the upper parking lot, we returned to the cars via the CCC trail and FLT.
Sunday, May 18
Sweedler Preserve/Lick Brook
Hike report by Jim
Fourteen hikers and a single dog met in the Land Trust Tapan Mitra Preserve parking lot at Shady Corners at the junction of state routes 13 and 34/96, for an out and back hike on the FLT through the Sweedler and Thayer Preserves led in parts by Peter H and myself. This is hike #7-2 on our list of regular hike locations: https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-7.
This hike took place on FLT map sheet M17. FLT map sheets may be purchased in paper or electronic formats from: https://fingerlakestrail.org/…/purchase-individual-maps/. Sale of map sheets helps to defray the on-going costs of trail maintenance.
The day was overcast with a threat of rain as hikers arrived. The parking lot was already mostly full due to a runner’s event that seemed to have met at the same location.
Hikers assembled for a group photo and then started towards the railroad trestle. Reaching the other side of Cayuga Inlet the group passed through the Cornell Botanic Gardens parcel before entering the Sweedler Preserve. We paused at the bottom of the Lick Brook falls before walking to the blue blazed Jim’s Trail switchbacks that ascended the hillside towards Townline Rd. Water was flowing well in the stream that the trail followed so closely much of the way up the hill. Hikers paused often along the way to check out the views or identify some bird or flower that they came across on the climb.
Reaching the top of the hill and Townline Rd the group crossed into the Tom’s Trail Thayer Preserve. The group turned around at the hour mark and returned to Townline Rd and began the descent back to the forest floor on the white blazed FLT.
Once on the flatlands the group retraced our route back to the cars without incident. By the time hikers arrived back at the cars, it was noticeably brighter than it had been earlier in the morning
We passed a few day hikers along our route but for the most part we had the trails to ourselves.
For those hikers who are tracking their 2025 FLT miles to earn an FT50 or FLT100 patch, todays hike included 3 FLT miles.
