ithacahikers

Report to Hikers: week of May 7-May 13

Hello Hikers!

Wed May 9

Shindagin Hollow SF — gorge rim trail and trillium displays on lower Shindagin Hollow Road

Official head count: 23H, three D

More photos:

Annie

Sat May 12

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

It was really hard to know whether we’d get rained out of this hike or not — turned out to be a gorgeous morning — the period when the spring greenery comes up here is probably the nicest time of year for this walk

Shortly after I took this photo, I fell down — I may have caught my foot in a root snag, I’m not sure — toppled straight down and hit with my head first — strained a number of muscles — Tiger and I abandoned the hike and I tottered back to the car with help from Casey

Official head count: 12H, three D

Sunday May 13

Shindagin Hollow Road east to South Road on the FLT past the lean-to

I was too sore to hike, so Tiger took all the official photos. We’re going to share the photo-taking in the future — my balance is impaired and Tiger thinks I scramble around too much going after the photos, increasing the chance I could trip and fall again

This was the first time Tiger photographed a hike, and I think she did a great job. I’m looking forward to seeing future shots from her. She did hit one technical problem — it was the first time she used my camera and she unknowingly activated a tiny button that made many of the shots come out overly dark — I lightened them up at home but they’re still a little dark.

Official head count: 25H, three D

More photos:

Jack V

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Our nature photographer Jack V is just back from a trip to a base camp in the Himalayas — check out his shots

Report to Hikers: week of April 30-May 6

Hello Hikers!

Wed May 2

Shindagin Hollow SF, bike trails in the northern sector

Official head count: 23H, four D

Sat May 5

Roy H Park Preserve into Hammond Hill SF, Dryden

Official head count: 24H, five D

More photos:

Annie

Sunday May 6

Taughannock Falls SP — rim trail and gorge trail

Official head count: 26H, seven D

Report to Hikers: week of April 23-April 29

Hello Hikers!

Tuesday April 24

Woodard Road NW to Hines Road and beyond

The state’s in the process of rebuilding the wooden bridge over Fishkill Creek that was damaged and demolished a few years ago. The work is now moving quite fast.

Official head count: 15H, three D

Sat April 28

Layen Road to Bruce Hill Road and beyond, Jersey Hill, Danby

Official head count: 32H, five D

Sun April 29

Route 79 at the Tioga County line south to Blackman Hill Road, Caroline

I misremembered the character of the trail — it’s actually a killer, up there with our toughest hikes — on the other hand, the scenery is pretty much great. We just need to be sure we do this walk only in chilly weather.

We made it up almost to Blackman Hill Road — this is the big field right next to the road — normally there are great views, but not this time

Great walk!

Official head count: 18H, three D

Report to Hikers: week of April 16-April 22

Hello Hikers!

Wednesday April 18

New loop trail, Danby SF

We set out pretty much planning to do a standard ‘walk-in, turn around, walk-back’ hike on two familiar trails, the FLT past the Chestnut lean-to and the north leg of the Abbott Loop — but then when we were part way up the Abbott Loop leg, we decided to push on instead of turning around — that way we’d reach Bald Hill Road and then be able to follow that north right back to the cars — creating a true loop.

Big success! — many of our regulars prefer a loop walk to an in-and-out one in principle — now this new loop can become a regular part of our repertory. It also solves a strenuousness problem — the walk up the north leg of the Abbott Loop is very attractive but a certified killer — now we can start the loop by walking down this killer segment — we’ll come back up to Bald Hill Road on the much easier Chestnut lean-to trail.

Of course this isn’t actually a “new” loop at all — it’s been sitting there in front of our noses all along — I just failed to notice it for many years

Official head count: 16H, two D

Sat April 21

Kennedy SF, Virgil

Official head count: 25H, four D

Sunday April 22

4 Mile Loop, Connecticut Hill WMA – with Dave G

Official head count: 28H, seven D

Report to Hikers: week of April 9-April 15

Hello Hikers!

Wednesday April 11

Smiley Hill Road, Hill Road and the FLT, Danby SF

There’s no painless way to get up the steep hill on the east side of Michigan Hollow Road at this popular hike trail head (Diane’s Crossing) — but there is an easier way and a harder way ….

After a few seconds of discussion, we chose the easier way, up Smiley Hill Road

It’s not that easy, actually — like walking up Buffalo Street into Collegetown or walking up Gunshot Hill to Cornell — but it beats the hairy alternative, climbing up the FLT

You come out onto Hill Road right near the end of the part that’s maintained — very pleasant stretch

Then Hill turns into a classic woods road — fun, but you need to watch your footing in spots

We decided to vary the way back to the cars and come back through the forest on the FLT — better and more dramatic scenery, and of course it’s pretty much effortless in the downhill direction

I like it when I can get a shot that hints at a story — here’s what’s going on in this one: Elizabeth is holding everyone back so a hiker out front can finish a pit stop ….

Official head count: 16H, three D

Saturday April 14

Bald Hill Road, Danby SF

We rarely get the chance to hike in fog — I love the mood it creates

I tried an atmospheric group shot — three hikers not shown …..

After a while, Jim decided we should have a group shot that included me — I always duck out of these, but he seemed determined, so I went along

We hit the junction with Michigan Hollow Road just as it was time to turn around — I thought the light was really nice, so this called for another commemorative group shot