July-August 2014 Summer Edition Volume 54, Nos. 6&7. Cayuga Trails Club President s Column By Roger Hopkins. A Pretty Good Spring

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1 Cayuga Trails Newsletter of the Cayuga Trails Club Founded in 1962 to explore, enjoy and preserve wild lands and places of natural beauty July-August 2014 Summer Edition Volume 54, Nos. 6&7 Cayuga Trails Club President s Column By Roger Hopkins A Pretty Good Spring This spring has been pretty good one for the Cayuga Trails Club! We dedicated the new Chestnut Lean-to following a year during which we dismantled the old structure, helped an FLTC AlleyCat Crew build the new one, and finished off the amenities and tidying up of the site. We were awarded a grant of $3,000 by the American Hiking Society s National Trails Fund to cover expenses for building a trailhead and interpretive trail at the Bock-Harvey Forest Preserve. This grant was one of ten awarded nationally in this annual program sponsored by L.L.Bean. Work has already begun under direction of Trails Chair Paul Warrender. Barbara Nussbaum has successfully absorbed the responsibilities of Membership and WLL Hike Coordinator. We now have a nearly full schedule of events (but still plenty of opportunities for you to volunteer to lead a hike), a new membership database (but plenty of room for you to help recruit new members), and a new anti-spam compliant e- mailing system for event reminders and news items. Let us know what you think about this mailing and if you have any suggestions. After a three-issue hiatus in the publication of the Cayuga Trails newsletter we have had a new member, Judy Austic of Seneca Falls, volunteer to be our new Editor. Judy brings her experience as an English Teacher and small organization newsletter editor, and is looking forward to hiking with us as well as working on the newsletter. Thanks to Judy, you once again have a copy of the newsletter in your hands. Gary Mallow s Tuesday Evening Stroll series is now in its third month and has gained a cadre of hikers who enjoy a weekly hike after work. Gary has found the best of our local trails that offer hikes of moderate difficulty and duration and leads at a moderate pace. The Trail Tending Thursdays events organized by Paul Warrender have also been successful in tackling projects that are beyond the responsibilities of our individual trail adopters. This is a great opportunity to help keep our 100 miles of trail in good shape and to learn about the trail and trail building and maintenance. The volunteers of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference received the Conservationist of the Year Award from the Finger Lakes Land Trust. CTC s work on our section of the FLT in the Emerald Necklace was cited as exemplary of the cooperation between the FLTC and the FLLT. And finally, at the FLTC Spring Conference in Cazenovia, the FLTC Board of Managers gave the first Bill and Ellen Garrison Landowner Recognition Award to the Bock family. Life members Dave and Joanna Bock of Enfield and Dan Bock and Lydia Edlund of Rochester attended to accept the award. Thanks to everyone who has been involved with the Club this spring. Check the website for coming events and we ll see you on the trail. And don t forget the Annual CTC picnic on Wednesday, August 13. Riemen Woods to be transferred to Finger Lakes Trail Conference In 1937, a Wiliiam A. Riemen purchased 37 acres of land on Porter Hill Road in Enfield from Tompkins County who had acquired the land as the result of a tax foreclosure. In 1969, Riemen s estate donated the land to the Nature Conservancy to be protected in its natural state. In 1978, the Nature Conservancy, determining that the land did not fit their priorities, 1

2 sold the property to the Cayuga Trails Club for $10 under a restrictive deed. Riemen Woods has long carried a half mile of the FLT and a offered a primitive bivouac site. Following discussions over the past year with the FLTC Board of Managers and our Executive Board, we have decided to transfer Riemen Woods to the FLTC and expect that this will take place within a month or two. Riemen Woods is adjacent to the Bock-Harvey Forest Preserve so it really made sense for the FLTC to own both properties. We believe that the larger resources of the FLTC, as compared to the CTC, will offer better protection for the property in the long run. Our thanks to Charles Crum of Lansing for providing pro-bono legal services to help with this project. Alpine: Berkshire Brooktondale Chemung Dryden Dundee Elmira Erie, Pa Freeville Geneva Horseheads Ithaca Welcome New Cayuga Trails Club Members by Barbara Nussbaum Kelley Cook Ithaca Laurie Clink Robert Schneider and Karen Hansen Uriel Carpenter Don Reiter Matt and Angela Branneman Knoxville, TN Mark Pollack Lansing Mark Humphrey Newfield Jenny Hunt and John Roden Ovid Michael and Christine Bihrle Pine City Kelli Shaffner Rochester Heather Webb Seneca Falls Gary Brouse Trumansburg Melissa Alario Liza Flum Elsa Sabido and Silvano Gonzalez Joe McMahon and Gail Steinhart Waverly Sharon Perkins Michael Roberts Eystein Skjerve and Mette Charlie Stronman and Sheila Stone Alfonso Torres Nicole Wolohan Michael Honeycutt Tracy McLellan Laura Heisey Kenny Fellers Joseph Runyan Sue Hopkins Judith Austic Colin and Earla Sue McNaull Randi Quackenbush Sharon Kahkonen Michael & Char McGuire Thomas Formanek Trails Report By Paul Warrender, Trails Chairman Thoughts from the Trail The preservation of the Finger Lakes Trail system depends on the willingness of hundreds of private landowners to allow the trail to cross their properties. These agreements, most no more than verbal, are predicated on as many expectations as there are landowners. However, there is one undisputable factor that can and will ultimately determine whether or not a trail on private property is allowed to stay open: the behavior and courtesy of trail users. The preservation of the trail, not to mention the results of many thousands of hours of volunteer sweat equity, as well as the hours of dedication and effort to gain and maintain the trust and generosity of many trail-hosting property owners can be challenged by as few as just one trail user who misinterprets his/her own responsibilities as a hiker and traveler on the trail. As a result, it is incumbent upon our great trail community to recognize when these issues exist, and to promote common sense themes that will help to ensure long and fruitful landowner relationships, not to mention preserving this great footpath. Several of these themes include: Leave what you find where you found it. Photos are allowed, however. Stay on the trail; the trail exists where it does because that is where hikers are allowed and to be and expected to remain, especially on private property. Obey all Posted signs; consider all that these signs imply (see above). Obey all trail closure signs; parts of the trail are closed temporarily for hunting or other reasons by the private landowners who allow us on their property outside of hunting season; it is their lawful right to do so, as well as to expect that hikers will obey these signs. Leash your dog; just like you, your dog is allowed on the trail only. Furthermore, it s the law in most jurisdictions in the Finger Lakes region, both on private and public properties. 2

3 Carry out everything that you carry in. Do not camp or build campfires on private property; there are only a few very well marked exceptions to this rule on the entire Finger Lakes Trail. We are often reminded that more than half of the Finger Lakes Trail system is on private property, via the incredible generosity of private landowners. Using the trail as respectful neighbors and law-abiding guests assists in the preservation of these beautiful paths through hills, field edges, forests, and meadows. Each year, literally thousands of long, hard, and strenuous volunteer hours go into creating and maintaining private landowner and public land-steward relationships, as well as constructing and maintaining New York s premier hiking path, all in the assumption that all hikers will abide by simple rules and courtesies (see above). See you on the trail! Thanks to these new trail adopters: Trail Section Adoption Andy Sciarabba, Bock Harvey Forest Preserve Trails, Rockwell Rd., Enfield Ian Golden, orange-blazed Buttermilk Falls Spur Trail (M17) Kenny Fellers, FLT Logan Rd. to South Hill Rd. (M15) Marcus Coppola, trail register boxes, Maps M15 & M16 John Anderson, trail register boxes, Maps M17 & M18 We are currently seeking adopters for these sections of the Finger Lakes Trail: Orange Blazed Abbott Loop Trail Bald Hill Rd. to Michigan Hollow Rd. (M17) If you know a trail adopter, or happen to bump into one on the trail, please thank them for all that they do. Without our trail adopters, our trails are nothing! Bock Harvey Forest Preserve Trails New 1.2 mile loop trail route through an area known as the Old Forest is now complete and open. The loop trail connects to the FLT via a very short spur. Trailhead is on Rockwell Rd., approximately 1 mile west of Hines Road. The loop trail is Yellow blazed. A new, Blue blazed spur trail from the FLT to a lookout area with resting benches. It is located off of the FLT approximately 1/3 mile east of Porter Hill Rd. Plans for summer 2015 include an FLTC AlleyCat Crew built lean-to at the site. Chestnut Lean-to pre-dedication maintenance, May 3. Thanks to Kenny Fellers, Marcus Coppola, and Ethan Coppola for assistance with delivery and installation of the new campfire ring and signs at the Chestnut Lean-to. National Trails Day Project, June 7, 2014 National Trails Day Project to build a large portion of the Bock Harvey Forest Preserve Loop Trail. A great time was had by all, and all worked hard and earned their t-shirts! Special thanks to Roger Hopkins, Barbara Nussbaum, Carol Mallison, Andy Sciarabba, Don Reiter, David Bock, Gary Mallow, and Robin Carlisle-Peck! Further thanks go to these individuals for work on the BHFP Loop Trail before and after National Trails Day. Those volunteers include: David Priester, Marcus Coppola, Ethan Coppola, Ian Coppola, Phil Dankert, and Charlie Elrod! Trail Tending Thursdays The last Thursday of each month through October is Trail Tending Thursday. Each event includes 2 to 3 hours of trail maintenance and projects on the Finger Lakes Trail System near Ithaca, NY. So far we ve had success with 3 events: Chestnut Lean-to maintenance, Bock Harvey Forest Preserve trail project, and the move of the Cayuga Trails Tool Cache to its permanent home at upper Robert Treman State Park. A thanks to all those involved to date: Roger Hopkins, Dan Reiter, Garry Mallow, David Priester, Barbara Nussbaum, Kenny Fellers, Marcus Coppola, and Robin Carlisle-Peck! And special thanks to Jim Dunn, superintendent of Robert Treman State Park and his great crew! FLT Trail Signs As part of the Emerald Necklace Project and FLTC/Betty Lewis gift funds 3

4 Locations will be scouted in a meeting with the Tompkins County Highway Department on Wednesday, June 9 6 signs will be installed at trailheads across Tompkins County this summer. A second phase will see the installation of 6 more signs. Special thanks to Steve Wright of the Tompkins County Highway Department. Upcoming Trail Projects for 2014 July 12, FLT reroute in the Finger Lakes National Forest. July 26, Cayuga Trail maintenance and repair event adjacent to the Cornell Recreation Connection property off of Hanshaw Road. July 30 through August 3, FLTC AlleyCat project; Diane s Crossing trail bridge replacement, FLT near Michigan Hollow Road. Rogers Hill Lean-to roof replacement; date to be determined. July 31, Trail Tending Thursday; see CTC website events for location. August 28, Trail Tending Thursday; see CTC website events for location. September 25, Trail Tending Thursday; see CTC website events for location. October 30, Trail Tending Thursday; see CTC website events for location. Griphoist and Rigging Training for 4 Cayuga Trails Club Trail Volunteers Four Cayuga Trails Club trail volunteers were invited to join a small group of equally talented FLTC AlleyCat Crew for two full days of training, concentrating on heavy trail materials moving and rigging at Alleghany State Park and Rock City State Forest near Ellicotville, NY, April 25 th through 27th. The training, hosted by the North Country Trail Association and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference covered the use of Griphoists, wire ropes, heavy shackles, nylon webbing straps, and other heavy duty trail tools. The principle training objectives included Griphoist and tool safety, rigging safety, worksite management, basic materials loading calculation, and materials moving techniques. Cayuga Trails Club member/trail maintenance volunteers included Gary Mallow (trail section adopter, trail project volunteer, and retired CTC Trails Chairman), Kenny Fellers (trail section adopter, and trail project volunteer), Matt Branneman (FLTC Vice President of Crews and Construction), and Paul Warrender (CTC Trails Chairman and FLTC Regional Trail Coordinator, Watkins Glen East). Lester Kenway, of Bangor, ME was our guest of honor and trainer. Lester has extensive experience in foot-trail construction, maintenance, and repair. His background includes a 22 year stint at Trail Supervisor for Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County, Maine; Owner of Trail Services, LLC, Bangor, Maine; and many years as volunteer, Trails Crew Manager, and President of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, the group responsible for the construction, maintenance, and management of 267 miles Appalachian Trail through the State of Maine. Lester is widely recognized as one of the America s premier experts in foot trail construction, and is regularly requested by the National Park Service, Appalachian Trail Conference, and other national scenic trail organizations to train trail crews. The training opened our eyes to opportunities through the proper use of rigging and equipment, as well as the safety parameters required to use it all. It also changed in many ways how we will view trail construction in the future, and how to use specialized tools that will allow us to move materials too heavy or far off the trail. This knowledge will help us in many situations to build better and longer lasting trails in the future. I d like to thank several persons from the FLTC for making this training possible: Marty Howden (Regional Trail Coordinator, Genesee West), Linda Rummel (VP of Trail Quality and RTC Watkins Glen West), Donna Flood (FLTC Board of Managers and Camp Chef extraordinaire), and Jacqui Wensich (FLTC Executive Committee Member and AlleyCat Crew Chef Superiore). Our training was financed by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and the North Country Trail Association. Happy Trails! 4

5 Hike Reports By Barbara Nussbaum Hike to the Thatcher Pinnacles before the Chestnut Lean-to Dedication Ceremony May 10 John Andersson and I used this chance to get some exercise on this 5.5 mile long hike and work up a good appetite and thirst before the official Dedication at the nearby Chestnut Lean-To at noon. We started our hike in perfect spring weather at 9 am at the north crossing of the Finger Lakes Trail on Michigan Hollow Road close to Diane s Crossing and hiked a 4.6 miles long lollipop loop up to the Thatcher s Pinnacles (1.700 ft.) and back to the Finger Lakes Trail and up again to the Chestnut Lean-To. We enjoyed the scenic view from Thatcher s Pinnacles over West Danby, the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve and the forested hills beyond only briefly to make it back on time. After coming back to the main Finger Lakes Trail we hiked to the Chestnut Lean-To which added another 0.9 miles of hiking. We were back on time and joined other Club members who had carried a lot of tasty treats and nonalcoholic beverages purchased and organized by Marsha Zgola, Paul Warrender and Carol Mallison. Everybody who came to the dedication had helped with the new Lean-To one way or the other. The dedication ceremony and Paul s speech about all the effort that has gone into making this project happen was very moving. Bock-Harvey Hike, Pot-luck Picnic and Birthday/Solstice Celebration June 21, Leaders: Roger Hopkins, Andy Zepp An estimated 85 people attended this event co-hosted with the Finger Lakes Land Trust. This was one of 12 events in the 12 counties where the FLLT has protected land in a day-long celebration of the 25 th Anniversary of the FLLT. The Link to more photos for Bock Harvey: weather was perfect for the longest day of the year and for a hike on the brand new trail, built over the past four weeks by CTC volunteers, visiting the extraordinary old-growth maple forest and vistas that make this a very special place. The hike was followed by a pot-luck picnic in the large meadow near the trailhead on Rockwell Road. Wally Wood Hike Saturday, May 3, Leaders: Deb Nero & Laurie Ondrejka Crystal Hills Trail with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference Two CTC hikers, our new CTC Newsletter editor, Judith Austic, and myself traveled out to the NY/PA border south of Painted Post to hike on a combination of the Crystal Hills Trail in NY (a branch of the Finger Lakes Trail) and the Mid-State Trail in PA. Together, these two trails form the northern end of the Great Eastern Trail, a new trail along the east coast that runs parallel to the Appalachian Trail, from Alabama to New York. The occasion for this hike was the annual Finger Lakes Trail Conference's "Wally Wood" hike, named after the founder of the FLT back in Deb Nero and Laurie Ondrejka, from the FLTC organization, served as the hike leaders. Two hiking options were offered: One group of about 12 hiked 11.5 miles. We joined about 5 other hikers on a shorter version, 6.5 miles. Photo by Larry Blumberg 5

6 Delaware County Hikes May 15 and May 28, Leader: Barbara Nussbaum Although Delaware County is a 90 minute drive away from Ithaca it is worth the effort to hike there. John Andersson and I hiked 10.3 miles on May 15 on the Main Finger Lakes Trail (M 27) from Shear Rd. in the Town of Arctic past The Cold Spring Lean to and the Dry Brook Lean-to down to the Cannonsville Reservoir at CR 27 in the Town of Trout Creek (FLTC map M 27). We were grateful that trail angel Bev Fox from Bainbridge waited for us near the Cannonsville Reservoir in the morning so that we could leave our car where we would finish our hike 5 and a half hours later. She gave us a ride to Shear Road in Arctic where we started our hike. We learned that she and other family members maintain part of the trail we were hiking on and helped to build Dry Brook Lean-to. It was a strenuous hike with a lot of steep ups and downs, but the many wildflowers and the beautiful lush green mossy forests we went through made this hike very special and delightful. Karen and Barbara crossing E. Trout Brook barefoot. Photo by John Andersson Three of us hiked in Delaware County on May 28 from West Trout Brook Rd. in Walton to Hwy 30 in Downsville (FLTC map M29): Karen Serbonich, John Andersson and me. We had a very early start and left Ithaca at 6 am. The reason was that Rick Roberts, the only trail angel for FLTC map M 29 could spot us only between 8 and 8:30 am because he was hosting the Alley Cat Crew who were building new trails in the area of map M28. Thank you, Rick, for spotting our car! We were glad we got an early start; the trail and day was beautiful. We finished this 8.5 mile hike just after 12:30 after stopping for lunch on a log just outside the State land as the trail started to go downhill. We saw no other hikers, nor did we see any horses! Saw two turkeys in the power line area. Karen, John and I plan to hike the whole Finger Lakes Trail, which is about 560 miles long. It will be John s second E2E. I have to say that I'm more and more impressed with the FLT the more I hike on it in different counties. What a wonderful trail this is and I'm very grateful to all these people from all over upstate New York who created it and who continue to work on it! Come, join us and become an E2Eer. Barb Nussbaum CTC/TCHC Hike May 19, Leader: Marsha Zgola & Kristin Schafer Watkins Glen Area For this hike the CTC joined forces with Triple Cities Hiking Cub from the Binghamton area. It was led by Marsha Zgola (a CTC member) and myself (not CTC but used to be). In attendance were one other TCHC-er, Ray Recchia, and two other CTC/TCHC members, John Greer and Jack Vanderzee. This hike was a repeat of a hike Marsha and I led back in We met at Satterly Hill Road in Burdett, left cars there and shuttled to Van Zandt Hollow Road west of Watkins Glen where we hit the Finger Lakes Trail. It was a beautiful hike, with the newly leafed trees, wildflowers including a magical field of Forget Me Nots, and a day of comfortable hiking temps and alternating sun, clouds, and a few raindrops. The highlight of the day was all the flowing water we encountered throughout the hike, flowing at impressive volume due to the recent rains, culminating in the majesty of Watkins Glen gorge, where we briefly left the FLT to walk the gorge trail down to the parking lot. None of us remembered ever seeing that much water gushing down through all the amazing rock formations, and at other smaller gorges along the trail we witnessed numerous magnificent waterfalls as well. And I cannot fail to mention our stop at the Crooked Rooster Pub in downtown Watkins Glen (the FLT does go through there). This might be one of the few hikes on record where one gets to stop halfway through and enjoy a craft beer, which we did. After that past Seneca Lake and into Excelsior Glen, again, impressive flowing water and falls. There is some roadwalk involved on this hike, but there are good things to look at as you're trudging along. The last few miles was road, ending at Satterly Hill Road at the parking area by the Twin Tunnels. Total hike distance was 13.6 miles according to the maps, but Ray's "sort of" GPS clocked us at only 12 miles. Either way, a nice long hike, and great camaraderie amongst hike participants! No better way to spend a day. Kristen Schafer 6

7 Van Lone Hill Loop Hike May 24, Leader: Barbara Nussbaum Location: Schuyler County It was a perfect sunny Saturday on Cornell graduation weekend, a perfect day for a hike. My husband Michael joined me. Two other hikers were waiting for us at the FLT trailhead on Gulf Road just off of Schuyler County Road #6 near the Cayuta Lake outlet, including one guest. CTC member Marsha Zgola, who is one of the fastest hikers I know, hiked with us for a short period of time before taking off on her own pace. The other two hikers stayed with the hike leader and didn t mind that they were slowed down a little bit. There were lots of wildflowers in bloom to look at and we had a good time talking about the trails, flowers, trees, the CTC or listened to the sounds of nature. This 5.8 miles long hike on hilly rugged trails took us about 2 hours and 15 minutes to finish. We all felt energized from hiking and all of us were very glad we came. Cayuga Waterfront Trail Evening Hike Thursday, June 19, Carol Mallison Three CTC members and a canine companion enjoyed a pleasant evening walk along the Cass Park section of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. The entire trail was teeming with the activity of other trail users as they jogged, bicycled, walked, pushed young children in strollers, or simply sat on one of many convenient benches and enjoyed the waterfront view. We were treated to the sighting of an Osprey as it swooped up and down the inlet hunting for a meal. Venturing down on the new section of trail running along the inlet by Five Mile Drive, more wildlife included a large gathering of Canada geese and their goslings of various ages, plus Mallard ducks and their ducklings cruising the inlet. Two brightly painted Dragon Boats were out practicing for upcoming races and it was fun waving at one familiar rower, former CTC President, Vito Brancato. Carol Mallison Upcoming Hikes and Other Events By Barb Nussbaum Walk, Look and Learn Hike #573: Roy Park Preserve Sunday, August 3, 2014 Time: 1:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: East Hill Plaza near Tompkins Trust Company, 1012 Ellis Hollow Road, Ithaca. Contact: Tom Reimers treimers@twcny.rr.com Telephone: The initial tract of the Roy Park Nature Preserve was acquired in 2007 by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. It includes 138 acres and more than 4,000 feet of frontage on Six Mile Creek the source of Ithaca's drinking water supply. The preserve more than doubled in size in 2010 when the Land Trust purchased an additional 169 acres of adjacent land. This second acquisition secured the first link of the Emerald Necklace Greenbelt, an ambitious effort to connect 50,000 acres of existing public land through select acquisitions as well as the use of conservation easement agreements on private lands. The Park Preserve has long been recognized as a priority for protection due to its diversity of natural habitats as well as its strategic location bordering three other parcels of protected land: Hammond Hill State Forest, Yellow Barn State Forest, and Cornell University's Slaterville 600 Natural Area. The Park Preserve is renowned among local birders for its array of breeding birds. It also has black bears! Tom Reimers knows this preserve well and will lead a short (marked trails total only about 1.4 miles) but "different" hike on this preserve. The "blue trail" from Irish Settlement Road initially passes through a former field planted with spruce and red pine trees in It ends at a lean-to in mature woods near the creek. The "orange trail" completes a loop through the old field. The "different" part of this hike is that we will leave the trails and walk in Six Mile Creek to get a different perspective of the surrounding wild lands. Please wear sneakers, Keens, Tevas, or other footwear you won't mind getting wet. The trails are easy to walk, and hiking boots are not necessary. For more information, contact Tom at (607) or treimers@twcny.rr.com. 7

8 Special Evening Hike - Fillmore Glen Thursday, August 7, 2014 Time: 6:00 p.m. Event/Trailhead location: Millard Fillmore Elementary School parking lot, Route 38 (Main Street), Moravia. Contact: Jennifer Wilson jennyjen2@earthlink.net Telephone: Jennifer Wilson will lead a hike at Fillmore Glen State Park where water in many forms has shaped the natural landscape. This park features cool, dense woods crowding into a long narrow gorge providing a refreshing respite from the summer's heat. Fillmore Glen is one of the many beautiful gorges in the Finger Lakes region and perhaps the closest to its natural state. The bridges, staircases and railings were built without taking too much away from the natural beauty of the falls and gorge. There are five major waterfalls within the gorge as well as several smaller cascades. The lower falls is very easy to reach and the rock formation around this falls is particularly interesting, creating an amphitheater-like surrounding. However, the other falls in the park are definitely worth the rugged hike. In fact, some of these falls are even more impressive than the lower falls. This loop hike is a little over 4 miles and includes several trails, some of which can be fairly steep in parts. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring plenty of water. Annual CTC Picnic Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Mark your calendar! Time: 6:05 p.m. Event/Trailhead location: Upper Pavilion at Buttermilk State Park off of W. King Rd Contact: Marsha Zgola mmz2@cornell.edu Telephone: The Cayuga Trails Club SUMMER PICNIC will be on Wednesday, August 13th at Upper Buttermilk State Park Pavilion at 6:05 p.m. Disposable plates, cups, plastic ware, some condiments, and charcoal will be provided. Picnickers are asked to please bring a dish to pass and something to grill for yourself (if desired) as well as your choice of drinks. Guests are very welcome. We will hold this event, rain or shine. Delaware County Hike #3: Shear Road in Arctic to Masonville (M27) Thursday, August 21, 2014 RSVP! Time: 7:45 a.m. Carpool meeting place: East Hill Plaza near Ellis Hollow Entrance. Contacts: Barbara Nussbaum barbnussb@yahoo.de Telephone: John Andersson jandersson@twcny.rr.com Telephone: Hike rating: Length miles; Pace - Moderate; Terrain - Moderate We will hike 6.4 miles from Shear Road in Arctic through Beales Pond State Forest past Getter Hill Lean-To to Masonville. We'll stop at the very nice general store in Masonville for ice cream and/or coffee before heading back home. There is the option of hiking 2.4 additional miles from the intersection of Houck Dr. and Butts Rd. back to Masonville after the first hike. Please reply to Barbara or John if you want to join us on this hike so that we can organize car shuttling. Thank You to Our Trail Landowners Please accept the appreciation of the Cayuga Trails Club Board members for your continuing permission to route local trails through your property. Perhaps your trail's caretaker has said so directly. Please know that we are all grateful for the privilege of enjoying your back woods, streams, and fields. On behalf of all hikers and CTC members, we acknowledge that, without your generosity, we would simply never have a continuous trail to enjoy in our part of the Finger Lakes. 8

9 Wilderness Experience in Connecticut Hill Saturday, August 23, 2014 Time: 8:30 a.m. Carpool meeting place: 8:30 a.m. - EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Event/Trailhead location: 9:00 a.m. Connecticut Hill, corner of Lloyd Stark Rd. and Connecticut Hill Rd. Contacts: Dave Gislason dgiffer@yahoo.com Telephone: Barbara Nussbaum barbnussb@yahoo.de Telephone: Hike rating: Length - 9 miles; Pace - Moderate; Terrain - Difficult Join Connecticut Hill native Dave Gislason for a very special hike through Dave s wild backyard on abandoned roads and old trails but not on the Finger Lakes Trail. Our hike, which is a joint outing of Triple Cities Hiking Club and the Cayuga Trails Club, will be a little short of 9 miles, but it will be a rigorous hike involving 3 hills and elevation changes from feet on the various hills. There will be the option to hike only part of the trail. Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area is the largest of its kind in New York State, totaling 11,645 acres. As part of the Appalachian Highlands, Connecticut Hill lies within a belt of high, rugged land. Settlement in Connecticut Hill started in the late 1700s. The harsh climate and shallow soils of these higher elevations were not conducive to successful farming and from 1900 on, Connecticut Hill was steadily abandoned. We will pass by the foundations of 3 homestead sites, in various degrees of dilapidation. Shortly after the farms were abandoned, New York State acquired almost 10,000 acres of the Hill for use as a game refuge. Since then, Connecticut Hill has been the site of many experimental programs designed to gain insight into the habits and needs of wildlife species. Throughout the area there are numerous streams and ponds. Connecticut Hill offers a diversity of flora and fauna. The mature or climax forest on the area consists of the American beech, maple and hemlock. Areas of oak and pine are also represented. Unfortunately there aren't many view areas despite the elevation, because so much of the former farmland is now wooded. However, on the Lloyd Starks portion of the hike there will be 2 spots with views to the south and east, where the state land borders a farmed field. The rest of the hike will be in the woods, except for crossing 3 fields. Be aware that we will be hiking on narrow rugged trails and we may encounter fallen trees to climb over and wet areas. Wear sturdy boots, dress in layers and don t forget to protect against ticks and sun. Bring plenty of water and a snack for lunch. Campout in Little Pond, Catskills Friday, August 29 - Monday, September 1, 2014 Register now! Time: 5:00 p.m. Contact: Barbara Nussbaum barbnussb@yahoo.de Telephone: Come join us for a camping trip to the Catskills during Labor Day weekend! The Cayuga Trails Club has reserved a few campsites at Little Pond Campground in the town of Andes, NY. See The campground is close to the Finger Lakes Trail (M 31). Some CTC members plan to hike on the Finger Lakes Trail to work towards completing the whole Finger Lakes Trail from end to end. But there are plenty of other hike options. You can also swim or paddle after your hikes. This camping trip is for hikers only and you are expected to participate in the group hikes which will be between 6 to 12 miles each day in difficult terrain. You need to bring your own tent or camper, all camping equipment and your own food for breakfast and lunch. We plan to organize potlucks/joint meals for dinner on Saturday and Sunday evening. If you want to reserve your half campsite for $38 in this CTC trip you need to Barbara at barbnussb@gmail.com. Please, include the names of all participants (up to 2 adults plus up to 3 children), and which equipment you plan to bring (up to 1 tent or camper) and up to 1 car and send your check to: Cayuga Trails Club P.O. Box 754 Ithaca, NY Make checks payable to Cayuga Trails Club, memo: CTC campout. Please contact Barbara with any questions. 9

10 Connecticut Hill Hike: Radio Tower to Gulf Rd. Saturday, August 30, 2014 Time: 9:30 a.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contacts: Lincoln Brown lincolnbrown@twcny.rr.com Telephone: June Meyer Hike rating: Length - 9 miles; Pace - Moderate; Terrain - Moderate Join June Meyer and Lincoln Brown for a hike from the radio tower at the top of Connecticut Hill to Gulf Rd /County Rd. 6. Walk, Look and Learn Hike: Asters and Goldenrod Sunday, September 7, 2014 Time: 1:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: 1:00 p.m. - The Flat Rocks parking area is on Forest Home Drive in Ithaca, opposite the Cornell Arboretum buildings near the Stevenson Suspension Bridge. Event/Trailhead location: 1:10 p.m. Parking lot at the intersection of Hanshaw Rd. and Lower Creek Rd, just south of NY Rt. 13. Do not block the gate. Contacts: Susanne Lorbeer Telephone: Barbara Nussbaum barbnussb@yahoo.de Telephone: Hike rating: Pace - Slow If you always wanted to learn more about the different species of asters and goldenrod you see along the trails this walk led by Susanne Lorbeer from the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society is for you. We ll walk on part of the Cayuga Trail and other trails near the intersection of Hanshaw Rd. and Lower Creek Road, look and learn about native wildflowers and will hopefully not find too many invasive and non-native plants. Parking is limited at the trail head. Please carpool from the Flat Rocks parking area near the suspension bridge on the Cayuga Trail. Tuesday Evening Stroll Hikes Report by Gary Mallow Many of us love to be out in the woods. If you work indoors, in an office, or in a busy, noisy environment, or if you're retired and spend too much time in the house, the woods are the perfect antidote. A little fresh air, sunshine, some mild exercise, maybe getting a glimpse of some wildflowers and wildlife, and the company of friends. What could be better? The problem is that many of us are busy and the connotation of the word, "hike," often brings with it expectations of a full day on the trail, breathtaking panoramas from the tops of mountains, not to mention arranging meals for the kids or the spouse, feeding the cat, even taking time off work. Suddenly, a hike has become cumbersome-a trek, complete with lots of preparation and too many chores. What's called for is a nice evening stroll. Something you can do in the evening or after work that doesn't require much more than throwing your hiking boots and some good socks in the car with your backpack and water bottle. No thousandfoot elevations to scale, no days on end in the wild. Maybe two or three hours of hiking, 4-6 miles. That is the thinking underlying the Tuesday Evening Stroll hikes, a series of 33 hikes every Tuesday evening from February until Big Game Hunting Season in November. The series this year was suggested by our Hike Coordinator, Barbara Nussbaum, and she not only convinced me to do it, she has been a tremendous logistical support as well. Barbara and I and seven others started on February 25th in cold, windy, wintry weather and on an icy, slippery trail - the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. This was a modest effort, just a couple of miles on flat ground, about half of it pavement that had been plowed by the guys of the City of Ithaca Department of Public Works. Our little group was definitely among the minority braving the wind off Cayuga Lake - or about anywhere else in Tompkins County - that evening. After our hike we warmed up with some hot tea at the Ithaca Bakery. Several of the hikers remembered the last time we had a series of short evening hikes like this, back in I was surprised that people would fondly remember that summer. We didn't even hike every week that year, but the format struck a chord, and a regular group of hikers seemed to be drawn to it then, and again this year. I am very glad to have their company. 10

11 Since that wintry adventure in February, we have explored a couple of the Finger Lakes Land Trust nature preserves, Cornell campus, the Cayuga Trail, the South Hill Recreation Way, all three local State Parks, and, of course, many sections of the Finger Lakes Trail. Any place that is quiet, offers good hiking, and perhaps has a natural feature to take in like a waterfall, a bog, or nice view. There is a group of regulars and people who drop in occasionally, or only once. So far, hikers from Germany, Norway, New Zealand and the Czech Republic have graced us with their presence. One of my favorite moments so far this year was a siting of an osprey on the trail out to the lighthouse, off the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. He sat about 80 feet above us and peered down as we stopped and gawked. Ospreys are pretty big animals and they like to perch above the water where their prey awaits their fate. We also saw many other waterfowl that day: Canada geese, Mallards, gulls, Hooded Merganser. Gundy Lee and Barbara Nussbaum have really added to the experience by pointing out many wildflowers. I love hearing about Blue Cohosh and Wild Ginger after they've spotted them, and I enjoy sharing what I know about False Hellebore and Skunk Cabbage. These are just a few examples: Gundy and Barbara are pretty knowledgeable about such things and are gracious in sharing their knowledge. In addition, I try to provide a few facts about the natural history of the terrain and the more recent Cayuga Trails Club and FLTC history regarding construction of lean-to's, bridges, and reroutes, and the generosity (or, rarely, unwillingness) of local landowners to allow us to cross their land. But these are brief asides to the main agenda, which is hiking. I like going along at a relatively brisk pace, generating some heat, getting my breathing going, and even sweating a bit. Others seem to relish this too, but we have hikers who would rather go along at a more moderate pace. There is room for everybody; we start together, we catch up with each other several times during the hike, and we all finish together. After the hike, we frequently go for some tea or ice cream, and on one occasion, dinner. But those are asides. The main event is hiking. I try to ''pre-hike'' each outing the week before the group comes out, to make sure the trail is in good condition and accessible, and for the most part, I am happy to report that our Trails Chairman, Paul Warrender, has his Trail Adopters out performing their duties and doing a great job keeping the trails up to the high standard we have come to expect. In a few cases, I've had the assistance of CTC Past President Phil Dankert in clearing up some deadfall or cutting back some brush to make the trek a little easier for the Tuesday Strollers, but these are more the exception than the rule. If you've got limited time but a desire to hike with a very convivial group, please join us. We meet every Tuesday at 5:00 P.M. sharp at Eastern Mountain Sports on Meadow Street in Ithaca. More details are available on the website under, "Coming Events." We carpool to the extent possible, and there is usually a car shuttle involved to get to the trail-heads. Bring sturdy, broken-in hiking boots or shoes, water, and insecticide. Bring rain gear if the weather calls for it. Whenever you enter remote woods like the areas we traverse, you should bring the 10 Essentials for Hiking, available on the CTC website. Upcoming Tuesday Evening Strolls Excelsior Glen Tuesday, July 22, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: Hike rating: Pace - Moderate; Terrain Moderate Shindagin West Tuesday, July 29, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. (click for map). Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: Hike rating: Pace - Moderate; Terrain Moderate 11

12 Bock-Harvey Preserve and FLT Tuesday, August 5, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: Rogers Hill to Texas Hollow Tuesday, August 12, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: Hike rating: Length miles; Pace - Moderate; Terrain - Moderate; Change in elevation feet Finger Lakes National Forest Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: 5:00 p.m. - EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: Hike rating: Length: about 4 miles; Pace: moderate; Terrain: moderate Edwards Preserve & Jonas Falls Tuesday, August 26, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: 5:00 p.m. - EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St.(click for map). Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: Hike rating: Length: About 3 miles; Pace: moderate; Terrain: moderate This week's hike takes us to the Edwards Preserve, managed by Cornell Plantations, and Jonas Falls, in Lansing. Buttermilk Spur and Lick Brook Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: Hike rating: Length: about 4 miles; Pace: moderate; Terrain: moderate This week's hike takes us to the Buttermilk Spur, a spur trail of the Finger Lakes Trail, and beautiful Lick Brook. Lick Brook has one of the most beautiful and dramatic waterfalls in the area. It is the major natural feature of the Lick Brook Preserve, one of 40 preserves owned and managed for the protection of its flora and fauna by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Park Preserve Tuesday, September 9, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. (click for map). Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: This week's hike takes us to Park Preserve, one of 40 preserves owned and managed for protection of its flora and fauna by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. 12

13 FLT in Danby Tuesday, September 16, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. (click for map). Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: This week's hike takes us to the Finger Lakes Trail on privately owned property in rural Danby. We will hike from Townline Rd. to Comfort Rd. Danby State Forest West Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Gary Mallow garymallow2004@yahoo.com Telephone: This week's hike takes us to Danby State Forest. We will hike from Comfort Rd. to Curtis Rd. Trail Tending Thursdays Report by Paul Warrender "Trail Tending Thursday" is an opportunity for anyone interested in working on light trail maintenance in a group for a few afternoon hours, and helping keep our trails and sites beautiful! Each "Trail Tending Thursday" is held on the last Thursday of each month, March through September. Participants will meet at the parking lot in front of EMS Ithaca at 4:00pm. We will brief all volunteers on the activity at 4:05, then leave from the parking lot at 4:15 SHARP and drive/carpool to the work location. Projects will last up to 3 hours or until dusk if participants are so motivated. All tools and materials needed for the planned activities will be provided. Participants will need to: Wear durable clothing suitable for working in the woods and getting dirty. Be aware that painting may be part of any program. Wear sweaters or jackets, and hats suitable to the prevailing weather conditions for the afternoon. Wear durable, rubber soled footwear suitable for hiking and/or working on rugged, back-country trails. Hiking boots or work boots are recommended. Feet must be fully covered; sandals, flip-flops, and other open footwear are not acceptable for trail work. Insect repellent will be provided; it is strongly recommended that some sort of repellent is used during trail work projects as we will work in areas with concentrations of black flies, mosquito, and ticks. Participants can use their own favorite repellent. Bring drinking water and snacks; each project will likely go beyond most persons dinner times. We will supply some extra drinking water and snacks, but PLEASE remember to bring your own. Bring your positive attitude and energy! Project activities may include any of the following activities: brush clearing, tree branch clearing, clearing of small downed trees on the trail; painting trail markings, repairing or installing trail signage; repairs to lean-to's and other structures, installing pre-fabricated puncheon; cleaning out lean-to fire pits, cleaning lean-to's and privies; gathering/cutting firewood. Please note: certain conditions will prevent a work event from happening (snow, heavy rains, high winds, and temperatures below freezing or severe heat); light rain will likely not cause cancellation of an event. If practical, a "raindate" for the event will be posted on the website. If in doubt, call Paul Warrender at

14 Upcoming Trail Tending Thursdays Volunteer Trail Work Event on the Cayuga Trail at Cornell Plantations Saturday, July 26, 2014 Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Carpool meeting place: 8:30 a.m. - EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Event/Trailhead location: 9:00 a.m. Parking lot at the intersection of Hanshaw Rd. and Lower Creek Rd, just south of NY Rt. 13. Do not block the gate. Contacts: Paul Warrender paul.warrender@yahoo.com Telephone: Roger Hopkins roger@naturalhighs.net Telephone: Shindagin Hollow Lean-to and trail area (M18) Thursday, July 31, 2014 Time: 4:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Paul Warrender paul.warrender@yahoo.com Telephone: FLT between Twin Tunnels and Satterly Hill Road (M15) Thursday, August 28, 2014 Time: 4:00 p.m. Carpool meeting place: EMS Parking Lot at 722 S Meadow St. Please park in front of the store but at the end of the lot furthest away from the store. Contact: Paul Warrender paul.warrender@yahoo.com Telephone: Adopt-A-Highway 2014 Report by David Priester The 2014 Adopt-A-Highway cleanup season is already half over And if you are not one of the 10 or so intrepid trash collectors you have missed out on the fun so far. This is an essential program that helps keep our roadside environment clean beyond what the state DOT folks can manage. I m told that Tom Reimers began the CTC involvement with the Adopt-a-Highway program quite some time ago. What a good thought and service to the community. We started out the season on May 7 after a weather postponement, and last week after another weather postponement another small group scoured the ground in Varna for round two. Volunteers will still be needed to clean up our adopted section of Route 366, which runs for about 2 miles from Judd Falls Road to just before the old railroad overpass in the hamlet of Varna. The roadside will be, unfortunately, littered yet again with the usual collection of trash, car parts, Cornell parking tickets and debris of many kinds. We have a number of loyal trash collectors and welcome anyone who would like to help out. It is a very visible function for us. I have had folks pull over in their cars on their way through Varna and thank us for cleaning up the roadside. Most volunteers will be done in ninety minutes or so, renewing acquaintances with old friends, or finding new friends during their time working together. Although the job sounds unattractive, the time spent usually goes by quickly and most volunteers leave feeling they contributed to their community. Wednesday, August 20, will be the next cleanup outing of the year and continues a long tradition of community service of this type by Cayuga Trails Club. The club provides the tools, bags and safety equipment needed. Helpers are assigned in pairs to sections of the highway to search for trash. The remaining two scheduled Adopt-A-Highway dates for 2014 are as follows. Please watch the web site schedule as weather may require a change in date as with the first two outings this year. Note the October date is, unlike all the others, a Saturday morning due to the early sunsets that time of year: Wednesday, August 20th at 5:30pm and Saturday, October 25th at 10:00am. 14

15 Upcoming Adopt-a-Highway Events Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Time: 5:30 p.m. Event/Trailhead location: Cornell University B-Lot parking lot, NW of Route 366 and Caldwell Road intersection (formerly 'O-lot'). Enter the lot from Campus Road and then go to the south-east corner of the lot closest to the Route 366 and Caldwell Road intersection. Contact: David Priester Telephone: Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Saturday, October 25th Time: 10:00 p.m. Event/Trailhead location: Cornell University B-Lot parking lot, NW of Route 366 and Caldwell Road intersection (formerly 'O-lot'). Enter the lot from Campus Road and then go to the south-east corner of the lot closest to the Route 366 and Caldwell Road intersection. Contact: David Priester Telephone: Join us to help clean up our adopted section of Route 366. Bring work gloves. We'll provide trash bags, safety vests, and spear poles. You need have no prior experience; you'll be matched up with a partner and will be assigned a section to clean up. This is a fine way to donate some volunteer effort to the club, particularly if you are not involved in trail maintenance or other committee activities. It usually takes a bit over one hour. Continued from back page Mark Your Calendar Fri, Aug 29 - Mon, Sep Campout in Little Pond /Catskills Barbara Nussbaum 1 Register now! Sat, Aug 30 Connecticut Hill Hike: Radio Tower to Gulf Rd. Lincoln Brown, June Meyer Tue, Sep 2 Tuesday Evening Stroll: Buttermilk Spur and Lick Brook Gary Mallow Sun, Sep 7 Walk, Look and Learn Hike: Asters and Goldenrod Susanne Lorbeer, Barbara Nussbaum Tue, Sep 9 Tuesday Evening Stroll: Park Preserve Gary Mallow Tue, Sep 16 Tuesday Evening Stroll: FLT in Danby Gary Mallow Check our website at CayugaTrailsClub.org for events that may not be listed in this issue. Also check the website before the hike for any last minute changes, cancellations, etc. Cayuga Trails is published six times a year and is edited and published by Judith Austic. Comments and original contributions are welcome. Deadline for the next edition is Aug. 15, Send contributions to jaustic@yahoo.com or 5 Stevenson St. Seneca Falls, NY Visit Cayuga Trails Club website at 15