Reminder: Finger Lakes Trail Hike Sat. May 25, Cortland County, all welcome

Just a reminder note about this Saturday’s upcoming Wally Wood hike. The weather reports seem promising for a great hiking day!

Wally Wood Spring Hike: Date: 25 May 2013

Leaders: Alex and Michele Gonzalez. gonzalez@cortland.edu (607) 844-8912

Title of Hike: Rainbow Hike – FLT Map M19 – Cortland County

Hike Description: The Rainbow Hike (thus named because the route follows trails of five blaze colors, yellow, green, white, orange, and blue) is 9.4 miles. The hike will take in the following trails: Lithuanian Loop, Irish Loop, FLT, Dabes Diversion, Kuzia Cutoff, and a portion of Cortright/O’Dell Road (scenic dirt road). No car shuttling will be necessary. The hike will also honor Joe Dabes’s contributions to the FLTC, since the first and last few miles of the hike will be on land that Joe owns, while the rest of the hike will be on trails that Joe maintains. The hike will take us past Foxfire Lean-to twice, providing shelter (maybe for lunch) if the weather should turn out to be rainy. This will be a dog-friendly hike (only for well-behaved LEASHED dogs), but hikers who may be nervous around dogs can join part of a separate group that will be hiking dogless and that will start either earlier or later than the main group. Because this hike will involve a good many trail junctions, the leaders will be gathering up the hikers for a head count a little more often than is usual on FLTC hikes. We prefer to err on the side of caution.

Meet: Babcock Hollow Rd. parking area, which is also the trailhead for the Lithuanian Loop, Map M19, at 10:00 a.m.

Directions to Meeting Point: From Dryden’s four-corners: Take NY Rte. 392 to Owego Hill Rd. Turn right at this three-way. Go to the end of the paved portion of this road at a four-way stop sign. Turn left onto Babcock Hollow Rd. and continue until you start seeing a pair of long ponds on the right. The large gravel parking area is on the right. From I-81: At the main Cortland exit for NY Rte. 13, turn right off the ramp and follow NY Rte. 13 through Cortland. When Rte. 13 becomes Tompkins St., look for NY Rte. 215 (also called Owego Street) on the left. Turn left at this three-way junction. Follow Rte. 215 all the way to Virgil. Proceed straight through at Virgil’s four-corners and follow NY Rte. 392 for less than a mile until you see Owego Hill Rd. on your left. Take it and follow it until its paved portion ends at a four-way junction. Turn left and follow Babcock Hollow Rd. until you start seeing a pair of long ponds on the right. The large gravel parking area is on the right.

Bringing a light headnet is encouraged, just in case black flies linger or deer flies make an early appearance.

We hope to see you out there on Saturday!
Alex Gonzalez

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Plea for Trailbuilding Help June 3-7 near Cannonsville Reservoir

This is a “plea-mail” for help on this upcoming Alley-Cat to move 9 miles of trail off road over two separate Alley-Cats. This Alley-Cat will be clearing brush and downed trees from an abandoned railbed and building three small foot bridges. We will be staying at Rick Roberts’ luxurious house with our favorite cook Jacqui Wensich providing all the delicious food.

Work will start Monday, June 3, and continue through Friday, June 7, provided there is still work to be done. Rick’s house will be open Sunday, June 2, for those of us who travel.  The work is located on M28 near Cannonsville Reservoir.

There is need for a couple more certified sawyers and swampers (sawyer helpers) as well as bridge builders.  You don’t have to commit to the entire project; you can pick and choose any partial or full days that fit your schedule. I know how precious time is and yours is greatly appreciated by me and everyone who hikes the trail.

Contact Matt Branneman at, 607-220-7812 or mattbranneman@gmail.com

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Call for Entries: 2013 Erie Canalway Photo Contest

2012 Photo Contest winner “Sunset at Lock 33″ by Gary Eisenhart

Entries for the 8th annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest are being accepted now through September 6, 2013 . Winning photos will be displayed in the 2014 Erie Canalway calendar.

Keep your camera clicking all summer long. Amateur and professional photographers are invited to submit prints and digital images in four contest categories: Bridges, Buildings and Locks; For the Fun of It; On the Water; and the Nature of the Canal.

The contest captures and shares the beauty, history, people, and distinctive character of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, which is comprised of the Erie, Oswego, Cayuga/Seneca, and Champlain Canals, and their historic alignments, and surrounding communities.

Download official contest rules and an entry form:
http://www.eriecanalway.org/get-involved_photo-contest.htm

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor spans 524 miles across the full expanse of upstate New York, encompassing the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego, and Champlain canals and their historic alignments, as well as more than 230 canal communities.  Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Commission and the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund work in partnership to preserve our extraordinary heritage, to promote the Corridor as a world class tourism destination, and to foster vibrant communities connected by the waterway.

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New Hiking Boots Offer Comfort For My Old Feet

by Sue Freeman

Looking at a pair of hiking boots is not normally what sets someone to feeling old. But, I can’t help it. My life is measured by hiking boots and their progression in technology. As with other advances (notably electronics!), the hiking boots of today are a world away from the hiking boots of my young adulthood.

Montrail Moraine hiking boots before hiking the AT.

In 1995 I began preparations to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. The prep included shopping for, selecting, and breaking in a new pair of hiking boots. I selected a state-of the-art all leather, mid-calf hiking boot called Moraine from Montrail. These were rugged behemoths that weighed 4 pounds and surrounded your foot in protective leather. The footbed was flat, requiring an insert to provide a minimum of cushioning and arch support.

Months before hitting the trail I began wearing my boots; first around the house for short time intervals.

Montrail Moraine hiking boots after hiking the AT.

Then for forays outside, gradually building up the time span and letting the boots somewhat conform to my feet as they were softened by sweat. Some hikers would fill their boots with water and others would even wear them in a shower in an attempt to get the perfect fit. But, as you can imagine, water wasn’t the kindest to leather.

In fact, we slathered the boots with waxy waterproofing which served to keep the water out but also proved adept at keeping sweat inside. I came to learn, in a painful way, that sweaty feet are a breeding ground for blisters. On the trail, I trashed my hiking socks and began wearing only liners. And I took frequent breaks with my boots off to air out my feet and  liners. Still, my feet blistered horribly.

Over the years, as I hiked other long-distance trails, I tried various boots. Each was an improvement in small ways. But, one thing that irked me to no end was the impossibility of finding boots that weren’t waterproofed. For years, a boot wasn’t sold unless it sported GoreTex waterproof fabric.

TevaSphere Trail boots

Fortunately, those days are long gone – and so unfortunately is my youth. I got a new pair of hiking boots recently – TevaSpheres. Hot off the development and manufacturing line, they’re the latest advance in technology, built for those of us who enjoy a variety of land-based outdoor fun that covers a diverse range of terrain. The ones I got are the TevaSphere Trail. They’re built specifically for women and offer a sturdy trail shoe, but NO waterproofing. Yipee! My happy feet can breathe. And I’m only lifting 1 pound of boot – a far cry from the 4 pound behemoths which probably weighted closed to 5 pounds once they got wet and stayed wet.

Some things do get better with age. Technology advances – such as the first-of-its-kind spherical heel and pod-arch system are significant improvements for people like me with aging feet. I bet the young ones will enjoy them also. I’m looking forward to giving my new TevaSpheres a decent workout.

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Help with Volunteer Trail Work on Ontario Pathways – Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays

Join an Ontario Pathways trail crew one day or many – all work is appreciated. Sign up with the crew chief to get emailed the work locations or check the web site. Most work crews begin at 9AM.
One Saturday per month (trail projects):  rmiddlebrook@rochester.rr.com
Wednesdays (weekly maintenance): dougdan@rochester.rr.com
Thursdays (heavier maintenance): twilbur@rochester.rr.com

Trail work tasks include such things as adding top soil, installing signs, trimming brush, installing drainage, clearing trees, pouring concrete, and resurfacing the trail surface. All tools are supplied – you supply the labor.

Ontario Pathways Trail is included in this Footprint Press guidebook.

Take Your Bike – Finger Lakes

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FL Land Trust aims to create greenbelt on southern half of Skaneateles Lake

Auburn Citizen, link to original post

The Finger Lakes Land Trust launched an effort to create a greenbelt of undeveloped lands that will ultimately extend around the southern half of Skaneateles Lake, ensuring the integrity of the area’s scenic landscapes and also helping to maintain Skaneateles’ and the city of Syracuse’s drinking water supply.

The project was launched with the recent donation of a conservation easement on 31 acres of mature woodland overlooking the lake by landowners John and Robin Hinchcliff. The Land Trust has also successfully negotiated a contract to purchase 200 adjacent acres from Bill and Leonard Burns. Both properties are located in the town of Spafford.

The Hinchcliff conservation easement ensures that a steep, forested hillside overlooking Skaneateles Lake will remain undeveloped. The property includes frontage on Randall Gulf Creek – a significant tributary to the Lake. Conservation easements are legal agreements that limit future development while allowing land to remain in private ownership, and on the tax rolls.

“This land has been returning to woodlands for almost a century,” says easement donor John Hinchcliff. “It’s been untouched for my entire lifetime, and much further back. He adds that “we admire the Land Trust’s long-range vision to build an emerald necklace around the lake. It would be a spectacular recreational resource and a great way to protect the area’s pristine woodlands and waters.”

The proposed acquisition from the Burns family consists of hillside forests and meadows that extend for more than a mile, overlooking Skaneateles Lake’s eastern

Take A Hike – Finger Lakes NY

shore. The property features scenic views of the Lake and includes several rugged gorges, and half of Randall’s Gulf – a large ravine that extends to the lakeshore. The acquisition also includes a 4,000 foot corridor that links the larger parcel to the nearby Ripley Hill Nature Preserve, which is owned by the Central New York Land Trust. The property is located near the Land Trust’s 130-acre High Vista Nature Preserve.

Once acquired, the Land Trust intends to develop a network of hiking trails on the land along with a parking area, scenic overlook, and on-site interpretation of the land’s natural and agricultural history. A $1 million fundraising goal has been set for the project to cover the cost of acquisition, as well as site improvements, and long-term management.

Take Your Bike – Finger Lakes

The Land Trust has completed five other projects within the proposed greenbelt, which extends from the mouth of Bear Swamp Creek on the west side of the lake to the Staghorn Cliffs on the east side. The area is widely recognized for its spectacular scenery and much of it is also recognized by the National Audubon Society as one of New York’s Important Bird Areas. In its relatively undeveloped state, the greenbelt also plays a vital role in helping to maintain water quality within

200 Waterfalls in Central & Western NY

Skaneateles Lake. Recreational resources include the extensive multi-use trails for Bear Swamp State Forest, popular Carpenter’s Falls and undeveloped shoreline that is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

“The steep slopes cradling the lake and Grout Brook are critically important to the lake’s ecosystem,” says retired SUNY-ESF lake scientist and Land Trust board member Bob Werner. “Add to that the idea of an emerald necklace wrapping around the south end and you have the beginnings of a vision for the future of this wonderful area.”

To hike, bike, or explore waterfalls mentioned here, pick up guidebooks from Footprint Press.

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The Finger Lakes Trail Conference offers Hiking 101 Summer Hike Series – Register by Jun 1

Take A Hike – Finger Lakes

The series is geared towards the novice hiker with little or no experience. Four guided hikes will be offered and will vary from 4.4 to 6.2 miles. Hikes will cover more than 20 miles along the Bristol Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail in Steuben County between Bath and Prattsburgh. Hikes will be held on the third Sunday of each month from June to September.

Registration is required by June 1. For more information or to register, call 607-324-0374 or visit http://www.fltconference.org/trail/whats-happening/hike-programs/sampler/

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NEW: A guide to maximizing the hiking experience on the North Country National Scenic Trail

The North Country Trail -The Best Walks, Hikes, and Backpacking Trips on America’s Longest National Scenic Trail
By Ron Strickland with the North Country Trail Association
Paper: 978-0-472-05184-7 / $22.95 • Also available as an eBook

The North Country Trail is the longest of America’s eleven congressionally designated National Scenic Trails. Winding through seven states—New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota—the NCT’s 4,600 miles attract more than one million visitors annually. Featuring everything from urban strolls to backcountry adventure through mountains, rivers, prairies, and shoreline, the trail crosses a region rich in cultural history and striking in natural beauty. The North Country Trail promises to be the definitive guide for NCT hikers—whether first-timers, seasoned backpackers, or any level in between—who wish to maximize their experience on this splendid trail.

The North Country Trail

In addition to a full overview of the trail’s tread in each state, the guide describes in detail forty of the NCT’s premier segments and provides helpful information, including:
·    Easy-to-read trail descriptions
·    Physical and navigation difficulties
·    Trail highlights
·    Hiking tips
·    Precise maps incorporating the latest GPS technology

The North Country Trail is the creation of the North Country Trail Association, the all-volunteer organization charged with developing, maintaining, and promoting the North Country Trail in partnership with the National Park Service. The segments included in the book were selected as the best of the trail by the people who know it best—the members of the regional chapters of the NCTA—and each segment was hiked by the author of the guidebook, noted trail developer, author, and conservationist Ron Strickland.
Click here to purchase.

Ron Strickland is one of only two living founders of National Scenic Trails. He is the author of seven books, including a memoir, Pathfinder: Blazing a New Wilderness Trail in Modern America, and The Pacific Northwest Trail Guide: The Official Guidebook for Long Distance and Day Hikers. He wrote The North Country Trail in collaboration with the North Country Trail Association (www.northcountrytrail.org).

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Cycling the Erie Canal – July 2013

July 7-14, 2013
Plan now to bike from Buffalo to Albany.
The premier cross canal cycling event, with 500 riders of all ages and from all over the country cycling from Buffalo to Albany along the Erie Canal; organized by Parks and Trails New York. http://www.ptny.org/canaltour

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Ontario Pathways Flint Bridge Scheduled for Summer Completion

Sometimes its one step forward, two steps back. That’s how the folks at  Ontario Pathways must have felt when they worked long and hard to get the bridge completed over Routes 5 & 20, finally connecting major segments of their trail. Then, before long a truck crashed & took the bridge out. Not to be set back for long, the OP volunteers again attacked the problem.  A few more hurdles remain, but they think that by the end of June the New Flint Bridge will be completed, once again uniting Stanly to Phelps on the Ontario Pathways Trail.

Take Your Bike – Finger Lakes

That’s good news. If you haven’t hiked or biked Ontario Pathways you’re missing a community gem. The 20-mile long rail trail forms a big V with one leg connecting Canandaigua to Stanley and the other leg connecting Stanley to Phelps. You can find a map and all the details in “Take Your Bike – Family Rides in New York’s Finger Lakes Region.”

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