hike reports – Page 58

Report to Hikers: week of Aug 20-Aug 26

Hello Hikers!

All photos in this report are by Tiger

Wed Aug 22

Buttermilk Falls SP — gorge trail, rim trail and Bear Trail

I don’t schedule group hikes along Buttermilk gorge because I figure everyone hikes here on their own escorting their own house guests and visitors up ans down the trail — then our group suddenly got two visiting guests of our own, and there we were with all the other tourists, gawking at the sights.

I think it’s always better to start at the top and get the first exposure going downhill — that way you’re not distracted from the scenery by gasping for breath or wondering if you might be having a heart attack

Of course the visitors were bowled over, but the rest of us had a great time too, even though this walk is probably very familiar to most people — it was a beautiful day and everything looked lovely

After we got back up to the upper level the group got fractured and there were hikers scattered everywhere for a while

We all bumped into each other at the end and it was fun to rejoin

This really is a fantastic hike even if it’s very touristic — definitely worth doing once in a while

Official head count: 17H, three D

More photos:

Jack V

Sat Aug 25

Woodard Road NW to Hines Road and beyond, Enfield

The first leg of the hike was extremely overgrown — and lots of poison ivy!

Official head count: 20H, six D

Sunday Aug 26

South Danby Road east to the Tamarack Lean-to on the FLT

Official head count: 28H, six D

Report to Hikers: week of Aug 13-Aug 19

Hello Hikers!

All photos in this hike report are by Tiger

Wed Aug 15

Bike trails, Shindagin Hollow SF — before the mountain bikers are out

Official head count: 17H, three D

More photos:

Annie

Sat Aug 18

Hammond Hill SF, ski trails

For the second Saturday in a row, it began to rain shortly before hike time when it wasn’t supposed to — we drove out to the trail head through a brisk sprinkle

We’ve learned not to expect much of a turnout on a rainy morning — but there’s a small but very faithful group that actually likes to walk in the rain

It wasn’t raining as hard as it did last Saturday and the trees provided some shelter, so it was actually quite pleasant

The scenery in the dim lighting looked exceptionally nice

After a while the rain stopped and a lovely pale light emerged

The week before we cancelled our visit to Hopshire because we were all soaked — this time we stayed dry

Great fun at the brewery, laughing infectiously and wolfing salted snacks

Official head count: NineH, two D

Sunday Aug 19

Taughannock Falls SP — gorge trail and rim trail

Official head count: 21H, six D

More photos:

Jack V

Report to Hikers: week of Aug 6-Aug 12

Hello Hikers!

All photos in this report are by Tiger

Wed Aug 8

Potato Hill SF, Caroline

It was supposed to rain but not until early afternoon — the meet-up site was very atmospheric — foggy, misty and very humid

It began to get ominously dark…..

Started to feel a few drops.

After about 15 minutes in , it started to pour. Very few people had a rain coat. Some people headed back to the cars, but the rest of us kept going. We turned around 15 minutes early because the trail got too slippery. The rain kept up heavily the whole time.

I took these last 2 shots under the shelter of my car’s hatchback.

Even though the rain continued several hikers kept walking to make the full 2 hours.

The rain finally stopped on the way home.

Official head count: 15H, 2D

More photos:

Annie

Sat August 11

Jim Schug Trail, Dryden

This wasn’t supposed to be a rainy day — then they changed the forecast a couple of hours before hike time, and it ended up raining on the drive out and back home, and for a lot of the walk itself.

No one wanted to walk through the big field or climb the slippery hill that we were scheduled to do, so we walked up the Jim Schug Trail.

It was extremely lovely in the wet conditions, misty and colorful

On the final stretch of the walk the rain was really coming down. I was soaked all the way to my underwear.

We decided to put off the stop at Hopshire for another day; we figured they probably wouldn’t have the heat on there and we’d get chilled sitting around in soaked clothes.

I realize not everyone is into walking in heavy rain, but it really was extremely nice.

Official head count: 11H, 5D

Sun August 12

Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area — with Dave B

Official head count: 30H, 6D

More photos:

Annie

Jack V

Report to Hikers: week of July 29-Aug 5

Hello Hikers!

All photos in this report are by Tiger

Wed Aug 1

Woods roads and rural roads outside the SW corner of upper Treman SP

Official head cont: 17H, five D

Sat Aug 4

Kennedy SF, Virgil

Official head count: 19H, eight D

More photos:

Annie

Sun Aug 5

Shindagin Hollow SF, rim trail along the gorge

Official head count: 22H, 6D

Report to Hikers: week of July 23-July 29

Hello Hikers!

Thursday July 26

Road walk in Danby SF — Smiley Hill Road and Hill Road

Photos by Tiger and me

Official head count: 15H, six D

More photos:

Annie

Jack V

Sat July 28

Treman SP on the FLT from Route 13

The hike was led by Jack V, who took the photos

Official head count: 14H, two D

Cook-out at Roger’s

Our food coordinator Liz sent me this note to post here:

Hello Hikers (past, present and future).

Great picnic this year. First I want to thank everyone who came, helped, or supported us in many ways. Thank you. Because of your generosity, I will be giving Steven and Susan a nice check which will pay for the website domain, other hiking related hidden costs, and a couple of meals out at their favorite restaurants.

Other comments I would like to pass on:

1) What do you think of changing the name of this event to the “hikers’ reunion” rather than hikers cookout? It really is a gathering of past and present hikers and I would like to encourage more people who have been associated with the group to feel welcome at this special party.

2) Multiple people commented to me that there were fewer salads/side dishes than before. Of course, no one went away hungry and the chicken was the star of the show, but just wanted you to know that many people appreciate and look forward to the variety of other foods as well.

3) Did anyone take a picture of Steven in his super-hero armor? Since we did not get a picture of him in a swim suit this year, this is even better! Please share. For a little fun, shall we come up with a name for him in his new persona? Here are a few ideas just to get you started: S-S Trail Cruiser (for Super Steve)? Ninja Trailblazer?

Thanks again, everyone.

See you on the path. Liz

********

Here are a few more shots from the event I got: