Hello Hikers!
Wednesday Oct 26
Ridgeway Road south to White Church Road along Willseyville Creek, Caroline
Official head count: 25H, five D
More photos online:
Saturday Oct 29
Fairfield SF, Candor, with Bill
Photos by Annie
Hike report by Nancy H
We met on a dirt access road near an old quarry. Fairfield State Forest has no marked trails, but our guide was Bill, a new member who grew up on a farm bordering the forest. This forest does not have marked trails, but Bill knows the place like his own back yard. Bill and Norm answered lots of questions about the many varieties of trees that grow here, including hickory, shagbark, red pine, hemlock, spruce, red oak, and a whole lot more. We emerged from the woods and walked along Jenksville Hill Rd, a very quiet dirt road, and returned to the starting point at almost exactly 11:30.
Official count: H:15 D:7
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You can see all of Annie’s photos online here. I love the look of this place and the vibe I get from Annie’s photos — I’m really sorry I had to miss this hike
Sunday Oct 30
Malloryville walk with Bob B
Photos by Annie
Report by Susan L
This lovely hike through the particularly diverse preserve took us atop an esker with views below on both sides and by bogs, swamps, and marshes, where we saw many a fallen tree coated in silky moss and enjoyed walking paths richly carpeted with autumn leaves. We learned how the glacially formed land features, including eskers, kames, and kettles, and complex water chemistry combine to support various distinct habitats.
Other highlights included crossing a stream on top of a beaver dam that had created a large pond full of now-dead trees and featured a grand beaver lodge; boardwalks and bridges comprised of donated (by Trex) composites created from melted garbage bags and recycled wood; and a kettle with a platform (named in honor of Bob and Roger’s “Aunt Floss” [1899-2001], who “breathed in three centuries”) in its midst that encircled rare plants, including carnivorous pitcher plants.
Mild and cloudy with just a few minutes of sunshine, it drizzled just before we started, for a few minutes in the middle and again toward the end of the hike; we just missed the downpour on the way home!
29 hikers, 7 dogs
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You can see all of Annie’s photos online here