Author: Benben

Wednesday, November 26

Hammond Hill State Forest from Route 38 south of Dryden

Hike report by John D.

Today, in the shadow of Thanksgiving, eight hikers met at Hammond Hill for a tromp through the woods. (Ben and I are not in the group photo.) We started at the trailhead at the end of Star Stanton Rd, off of State Route 38 South of the Village of Dryden, but followed a loop using the HH colored trails. See the photo of the route. Many of these trails resemble sidewalks through the woods. The hike started a few minutes late and was just under two hours (10,000 steps!)

Although it rained much of the night before we were lucky to escape rain and even had glimpses of blue sky with temperatures in the 50s. The initial part of the trail was quite steep but after that things were fairly easy going. No one was mistaken for a deer and shot!

We also came across a mysterious mini-pond.

Sunday, November 30

Owl Creek Trail, lower Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca

Hike report by Margaret F.

28 hikers and 2 dogs gathered at the main entrance to Buttermilk Falls State Park to hike the Owl Creek Trail.  Margaret F. was scheduled to lead but ceded to Mark S. who wanted to take the group to some additional nearby trails.  The group started up the park road at the end of the parking lot to the head of the Owl Creek Trail.  The day was gray and chilly, but everyone warmed up on the uphill climb.  Many hikers added reflections to the notebook at the Owl Creek overlook.  After the overlook, Mark S. lead the group onto an unblazed trail to a historic graveyard featuring a plaque commemorating some of original settlers in this area (see photo).  The group returned briefly to the green blazed Owl Creek Trail then diverted through a campground and across some private lands featuring a stone fireplace and stone walls remaining from historic homes.  Mark S. led the group past a babbling brook (see video) and along a path that wound back to the park road.  The group followed the road back to the parking lot arriving at about 11:10AM, 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

Wednesday, November 19

O.D. von Engeln Preserve, Freeville

Hike report by Greg

Seventeen hikers including 2 first timers met on a chilly (29 degrees) morning at the Von Engeln Preserve in Malloryville. After descending  to the bog for a view of carnivorous plants and moss beds we exited the preserve and continued to enjoy more of the Nature Conservancy. Highlights included walking on eskers and crossing a well constructed beaver damn. Here the group fragmented but after 15 minutes we reunited to return on the rail  trail to the preserve.  Despite the leisurely pace we arrived at our cars after 2 pleasurable hours and a 10 degree gain in temperature.

Saturday, November 22

Lime Hollow Nature Center, Cortland

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Twenty-three hikers gathered at the northern parking lot on Gracie Road for this lively hike. Our route went west on Lehigh Valley, south on east Fenway to the Mill Pond Connector, clockwise on the Mill Pond Loop with a planned excusion out east of Gracie to Wanderers Way, then completing the Mill Pond Loop and returning via west Fenway and Lehigh Valley. Wanderers was blocked for hunting, so we made up that distance/time by visiting the very enjoyable, surreal Kroot Art Trail on the way back. The first hour of the hike was sparkly and sunlit, and the expected overcast rolled in by the last hour of the hike. 

The Kroot Art Trail is a great way to extend this hike by about 15 minutes at the end if needed (it’s about 5 minutes from the cars). It’s nice to keep in mind if Wanderers is blocked off for hunting or if the group turns out to be unexpectedly fast. There’s no way to get lost there, says me. And anyway, it’s so fun to watch hikers look at each other looking at the art that we end up spending at least as much time grinning at each other as we spend looking at the art. Lime Hollow updates these art installations from time to time, so if you haven’t been there in a few years, there are new pieces you can see.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, November 23

Sims-Jennings Preserve at Cayuga Cliffs, Lansing

Hike report by Nina F.

Twentynine hikers and three dogs met at Sims-Jennings preserve at Cayuga Cliffs in Lansing. The weather was chilly but the rain held off until just after the hike ended. 

We hiked several interconnected trails, all of which provided stunning views of Cayuga Lake. The first loop included a small waterfall and a steep descent down to a flat path that ran along the lake from the top of the cliff. We then had to ascend back up to the main trail, stopping for a view of the gorge and lake. Next was an out and back section that led through the forest and treated us to several beautiful rocky creeks and small waterfalls. Finally, we hiked up to two large, mowed meadows and circled them, catching the best lake views of all from the top of the farthest field. The hike lasted exactly two hours.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Wednesday, November 12

Finger Lakes National Forest, Hector

Hike report by Mark Sussman

On Wednesday, November 12, Eleven hikers and 1 dog met at Searsburg road for a hike in the northern section of the Finger Lakes National Forest. We hiked on the Interloken trail and the No-Tan-Takto trail. The group photo was taken by beautiful Teeter Pond. This area does not feature many ups and downs, but does have a lovely mixture of pasture and woods.The hike was a bit under 5 miles, and we finished in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Saturday, November 15

Black Diamond Trail from Kraft Road

Hike report by Margaret F.

24 hikers including new hikers Cathy and Vrinda and 2 dogs gathered at the intersection of Kraft Rd. and the Black Diamond Trail in Ulysses.  The morning was cool and calm with hints of sunshine peeking through.  For this out and back hike we headed north on the Black Diamond Trail and connected to the North Rim Trail in Taughannock Park.  Hikers set their own paces and most turned around at the Taughannock Falls overlook.  The fall scenery included the final days of foliage, glimpses of Cayuga Lake, falls overlooks at several points and calm falls woods. No hunters were seen or heard. A maximum mileage hiked by our fastest group was 6.5 miles.  The group completed hiking at 11:30 AM, well before the afternoon storms rolled in. 

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, November 16

Dryden Rail Trail & Monkey Run trails from Stevenson Road

No hike report for today’s hike.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Wednesday, November 5

Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville

Hike report by Steve Schwartz

Eleven hikers, one dog.

Our Green Lakes hike does a figure eight around the two beautiful meromictic lakes and then uphill to the golf course.  The walking is easy on wide well-trodden trails.  On this late fall day—overcast, mid-50s, light wind–we met only a few other walkers and joggers.  Green Lakes State Park can get very crowded on summer weekends.  After circling the north side of Green Lake and the south side of Round Lake admiring the crystal clear blue (not green) water, we walked uphill to bathe in the old growth forest, then steeply uphill with views down to the lakes through the bare trees.  We reached the golf course and had snacks in front of the fancy golf course restaurant lounging on the chairs provided.  Here there are stunning views of Green Lake and the distant plains north of Syracuse.  We can see our starting point (beach restroom building) far below in the distance.  We retraced our steps and walked back on the other sides of the lakes.  On the way we stopped briefly to enjoy looking up at the towering old growth tulip trees and the rare freshwater reef, Deadman’s Reef in Green Lake.  Total time:  2.5 hours.  5.5 miles. 

View Nancy Lorr’s photo album.

Saturday, November 8

CT Hill Wedge & FLT Loop

Hike report by Dave Bock

24 hikers and 2 dogs showed up for the trek on this cool, windy, somewhat overcast morning. The leaf-covered trails were relatively level save for a steep downhill on a section of the FLT followed by the final knobby climb back to the cars. We wound through forests young, old, and in one area gone, logging operations at least revealing a nice view as compensation for the newly scarred landscape. A skull hanging on a tree limb provided a curious diversion, but the group completed this 4-mile loop in just under 2 hours. 

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Sunday, November 9

Abbott Loop from Diane’s Crossing, Danby SF

Hike report by Leigh Ann

Nineteen hikers and two dogs on leash met at Dianne’s Crossing on Michigan Hollow road for this out-and-back toward the Pinnacles on the Abbott Loop. This was an atmospheric day for being in the woods. Aside from a few drops within ¼ mile of the cars on the out- and in-bound legs of the route, there was no rain. The woods looked like a Rembrandt painting. Although there was fog at the Pinnacles, spirits were high. This hike had 1003 feet of elevation gain, so not everyone got to the Pinnacles. Depending on where one turned around, this hike was anywhere between 4 miles and 4.75 miles, and it looks like it was a popular day in the woods – not just for our group but for many other hikers we encountered along the way.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.

Wednesday, October 29

Finger Lakes Trail from White Church Rd., Brooktondale

Hike report by Jim

Thirteen hikers and a single dog met on White Church Rd in the Town of Caroline for a hike of the current and former FLT footpath along Wilseyville Creek.

This is hike # 24 on our list of regular hike locations:  https://www.ithacahikers.com/hike-24.

The morning was frosty, and the hills around us sheathed in various shades of brown and green. The fowl at the neighboring home who are usually vocal in objecting to our presence were noticeably quiet today.

Today’s hike took place entirely on FLT map sheet M18 Map sheets may be obtained in paper or electronic formats from the FLTC at:  https://fingerlakestrail.org/…/purchase-individual…/…

Sale of the map sheets helps to offset the on-going costs of trail maintenance.

After the group photo we set off, crossing White Church Rd and entering the FLT. Here the FLT crosses an open field, the tall summer weeds now turned brown in the fall. The trail exits the field and enters some woods, with a couple of rolling hills along the way that stop once or twice to give a hiker a good view of adjacent waterways.

The FLT takes a solid left turn and passes along several open fields and through earth cuts from the days when this section of trail was an active rail line. Soon we reached White Church Rd at Coddington Rd, where the FLT follows Coddington Rd until it turns into the Eberhard Preserve.

Rather than road walk up Coddington Rd the main group turned around and retraced our path on the FLT. A few hardy souls in the group DID continue up Coddington Rd on their own for the remainder of the hike.

Reaching the FLT turn we had previously made, I led the group on what was the former route of the FLT prior to a trail re-route a couple of years ago. This section of trail will soon become part of the Coddington Valley Trail, which will connect the FLT to the South Hill Rec Way when it is completed:  https://www.townofcaroline.org/…/project-south-hill-rec…

The group reached Ridgeway RD, where we took a minute to check the area on the opposite side of Ridgeway Rd where I expect the new trail will pass through eventually.

The group turned around and re-traced our route back to the FLT and from there back to White Church Rd and our cars.

For those hikers who are tracking their FLT miles for a 2025 FLT50 or FLT100 patch, I would count todays hike as 4 FLT miles. Since the group split up and had slightly different distances on the FLT, it’s up to hikers to measure their own mileage towards the patch.

Sunday, November 2

Monkey Run from Hanshaw Road

Hike report by Leigh Ann

What a brilliantly leaf-jewel shiny day for a hike! Thirty hikers and two dogs on leash headed south from the junction of Hanshaw and Lower Creek Road. We walked down to two “beaches” (that is, rocky places by the creek), up some steep stairs that were each about knee high. Then we travelled up and down through fields, small bridges, and creek beds until we got to the far end of the new section of trail the Ithaca Hikers built about a month ago. We returned without going down the steep stairs again, instead staying along the side of the fields at the top of the bluffs. 

This difference in route on the way back meant we returned to the cars about 15 minutes early, having just hiked under 4 miles. Nobody seemed to mind coming back a bit early, and lots of people hung out chatting in the parking lot once we’d gotten back.

View Leigh Ann’s photo album.