ithacahikers

Report to Hikers: week of Aug 5-Aug 11

Hello Hikers!

Wed Aug 7

Woodard Road NW to Hines Road on the FLT, Enfield

The second part of the hike, beyond Hines Road, was totally overgrown and impassable, so we urned around.

We decided to make the walk into a loop by coming back on the road rather than retracing our steps through the woods

The roads here don’t seem particularly dramatic, but they have a wonderful country feeling that I think is really special. Very quiet and deserted.

Corner of Woodard Road and Stonehouse Road. I assume this is the house that gave the name to the road. Very beautiful and mysterious.

Official head count: 18H

More photos:

Jack V

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Sat Aug 10

Rim trail along Shindagin gorge, upper Shindagin Hollow SF.

Normally when we emerge from the woods we head down a narrow steep path to the stream at the bottom of the gorge — but the path was so overgrown most people didn’t want to go down — so we walked down Shindagin Hollow Road to the bottom instead

It’s a lovely walk and really just as satisfying as going down to the stream

Official head count: 20H, six D

More photos:

Annie

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Sun Aug 11

Taughannock Falls SP, rim trail and gorge trail

It ws a gorgeous morning, the kind of day you’d expect the park to be jammed, but it actually wasn’t very crowded

Official head count: 21H, four D

More photos:

Jack V

Report to Hikers: week of July 29-Aug 4

Hello Hikers!

Wed July 31

Bald Hill Road south to the Abbott Loop and up to The Pinnacles Look-out, Danby SF

Dark misty damp morning — extremely nice after all the hot weather

Aside from where we parked, the little clearing at the look-out was the only place with any real light for taking photos

This is where the southern leg of the Abbott Loop crosses Bald Hill Road — we traditionally reverse course and retrace our steps at this point

Back up at The Pinnacles on the retuen leg of the walk

Official head count: 23H, one D

More photos:

Annie

Jack V

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Sat Aug 3

Lick Brook

The improvement to the trail along the edge of Lick Brook involved lengthening the route so the climb is more gradual, and installing several areas of wooden steps to end erosion of the steep slopes. Several hikers said this reduced the adventure of climbing up the hillside. I was hoping the work crew would also level out the path so it no longer tilted strongly toward the stream gorge, but this issue wasn’t addressed. I have a lot of trouble walking on a surface that tilts because, as some of you know, I developed problems with my balance a few years back related to a nerve disorder I inherited. I’m no longer able to walk without lurching and staggering a bit, and this problem makes me worry I could stagger into the gorge.

I’ve been wearing a bike helmet and upper body armor for over a year when I hike ever since I took a weird and somewhat serious fall onto the top of my head that I suspect was related to my balance problems. The helmet and armor make me feel more secure but they can be really oppressive on a hot humid morning like this was.

Official head count: 24H, three D

More photos:

Annie

Jack V

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Sun Aug 4

Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area with Dave B — The Saddle

Official head count: 31H, 10 D

More photos:

Jack V

Liz K wraps up this year’s cook-out

Greetings Friends,

What a spectacular day we had for the Hiker’s reunion picnic! By all accounts, it was an overwhelming success. The weather was perfect. The chicken quarters were moist and flavorful. The wait for grilled food was minimal. A record number of people came (between 90-100!). There were lots of great food on the dish-to-pass tables. And a good time was had by all. THANK YOU.

A special shout out to Roger and Gunilla, Randy, Jack, Bud, Pat, Mary, Eckhart, and the very generous donor who wants to remain anonymous for all you guys did behind the scene.

Also a BIG thank you for everyone’s generous donation. We have enough to pay for the website for the year, cash to give to Steven and Susan for the incidentals for other hiker related expenses ( for example sparkling wine at the New Year’s eve tailgate party) and a nice gift certificate to REI so they can keep looking sharp while attending every hike.

Hope to see you on the trails, or around town,

Happy Hiking.

Liz Kyle

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Liz and Gunilla, and Tiger’s back. I really love scenes with smoke that’s illuminated against a very dark background.

Liz always does a great job coordinating the food, and I don’t think anyone’s happier to have her handling it than Tiger and me. We used to do the food operation ourselves but Tiger hated it, and Liz felt I was heavy-handed and brusque. Liz really has a knack for this — she makes it seem effortless.

Report to Hikers: week of July 22-July 28

Hello Hikers!

Wed July 24

Bock-Harvey Forest Preserve and Riemen Woods, Enfield

A number of hikers didn’t make it into the group shots ….

Most of the walk is in the woods, but it was much too dark there to get any good shots

Official head count: 24H, four D

More photos:

Annie

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Sat July 27

Treman SP, west on the FLT from Route 13

Tiger and I had to miss this hike — we were helping set up at the cook-out — photo by Vicki

Official head count: As an exercise, you can count yourself — be sure to add in Vicki

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Sun July 28

Monkey Run Natural Area, south side of Fall Creek, Varna

I managed to get everyone but three people

Official head count: 27H, two D

More photos:

Annie

2019 Hikers’ Reunion Cook-out

Our food coordinator Liz K, vamping with balloons she was on the way to tie up along Route 13 to mark the entrance to Roger’s driveway

If you’re new to the web site, be aware that if you click on any photo, you’ll see a large high-resolution version pop up, which will let you see the details.

Official head count: As of 1 pm, that’s to say very early, the official count was 85H, already more people than we’ve ever had before — and new people were steadily rolling in. It seemed like the final total might well approach 100.

More photos:

Annie