2003 CTC Newsletter.Pdf
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Newsletter of the Cayuga Trails Club Founded in 1962 "to explore, enjoy, and preserve wild lands and places of natural beauty ... " January-February 2003 Winter Edition Vol. 43, Nos. 1 & 2 President's Message by Suzanne Cohen '' It's hard to get excited tain in the local area is part of an 800-mile-long statewide about working on a trail Finger Lakes Trail System. I was proud that I could an that's already built and swer yes in regard to CTC members. About 25 percent of looks great!" This was heard CTC members are also members of the FLTC and over the during a recent discussion about next few months I hope the Executive Board will be dis getting people involved with the cussing ways to increase this percentage. We need to sup Cayuga Trails Club (CTC) and port the umbrella organization that provides many impor . : the Finger Lakes Trail Confer- tant tangible benefits, but also keeps us connected to the ~ ence (FLTC). The early mem- ''big picture." At this club leaders meeting, I accepted a 4: X k:tse ~ D CC m"l¥t ~hers of the CTC were scouting, framed FLT patch, recognizing the CTC's 40 years of Shh', ff ff'j ~flagging, and clearing a foot- FLTC membership. I'll be sure to bring this to the Annual - path that would reach all the Meeting for all to see. way across New York State-what an exciting goal that Many of you are aware that I will not be seeking must have been! Completing the North Country National reelection as president this year. I look forward to serving Scenic Trail (over 4,000 miles) is a similarly challenging on the board in other roles, continuing friendships that I and exciting goal. Maybe it's time for the CTC to come up have developed through the club, and working toward a with a new dream for our club-something to work to new dream that we can create together. ward. What are some ideas? What would spark the passion of the larger community and make it want to help? One idea is to work toward acquiring protection for every inch of the trails we maintain with conservation easements or by purchasing land. This is not to suggest that people aren't working hard just to preserve and improve upon what has already been done. During my past three years as president, I have been truly amazed by the individual and collective contributions that our members have made. And, let's not forget getting out there to enjoy the fruits of everyone's labor educating and bringing people closer to nature and to each other during sponsored outings. Some may ask how we can think about doing more when we are having trouble finding new people to take leadership positions. I am just wondering if the club needs a new approach, a new goal to Club leaders, including CTC President Suzanne Cohen (front row attract some attention. left), attended the FLTC Club Leaders Summit on November 2, 2002. Some brainstorming to this effect was done at the Reproduced with permission ofFinger Lakes Trail News. FLTC-sponsored Club Leaders Summit, which I attended along with five other CTC board members on November 2 at Highland Forest. Someone asked if our members are conscious of the fact that the trail they hike on and main- Trails Report by Tom Gudeman Trails Chairman ear .the end of October, we had our last official trail mamtenance work session for the season. And a Nsuccess it was. Fourteen of us gathered on Logan Road in Schuyler County to make improvements to the tree bridge on the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) that crosses the creek near there. Many events took place simultaneously. Several brave souls donned their rubber boots and climbed into the creek to move rocks and stones against the bank and around the roots of our tree to help protect against further erosion during floods. Some wet feet did ensue. Some worked on creating a handrail for the bridge from 2" x 4" supports and long branches from the area. A family team created a set of steps at the far end to help with the otherwise 30" step up. The humps along the walking surface were shaved off using our new chainsaw. Signage was improved. Blazes were repainted over a considerable distance along the trail. A lot was accom plished, along with merriment and good-natured humor. \ , . '..::::~ . Some ofthe 14 CTC volunteers for the October trail work crew. The tree bridge is now very easy to cross. Photo by Marsha Zgola. A small group even followed Kurt Seitz (who is back from New Hampshire) to Rieman Woods to clear and Report on Special blaze a new section of FLT that Kurt had flagged only a few days before. Thanks, Kurt, for taking the lead on this. October Hike The reroute in that area is an improvement over the former route, going through woods up on the hill rather than + Date-October 20, 2002 paralleling the road downhill only to climb steeply back up passing close to someone's house. Thanks to everyone + Location-Mount Pleasant, Town of Dryden, who helped. Tompkins County I am also announcing that I am no longer going to be ·+ leader-Peter Harriott the trails chairman. I feel that much was accomplished this past season with many thanks to all the volunteers who n October 20th, Peter Harriott led a short loop hike helped out. I enjoyed each of the outings. But I am devot on M0tmt Pleasant near Ithaca before the annual ing myself to working on my own house projects for the 0 membership meeting and dish-to-pass supper in Ellis foreseeable future and will not have time to orchestrate a Hollow. Eleven members and four guests partic monthly trail work party. I do plan to be available for tech ipated. The group started where the gas pipeline crosses nical assistance and to help with one of the bigger single Mount Pleasant Road about two miles from Turkey Hill person projects. Road. After a short walk along the pipeline right-of-way, the group went north into the woods on an unmarked trail that led to an old (70 years?) lean-to in need of repairs. Hikers then headed along an abandoned road to Pine Woods Road Cayuga Trails is published six times each year and (also abandoned) and uphill to the pipeline to take another is edited and published by Thomas J. Reimers. Comments and original contributions are welcome. trail through the woods to the top of the hill. Hikers were Deadline for the early spring edition is February 15, lucky to arrive at Cornell's Hoffman Challenge Course just 2003. Send to nyhiker@localnetcom or 3C Wild when a group of students were climbing polls and across flower Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850. cables stretched between polls and trees. Hikers then went along the same pipeline route to the starting point. The hike was about two miles long round-trip. Cayuga Trails - 2 - Winter 2003 Cornell Plantations Beam Hill in Dryden Natural Areas Walk, Look, and Learn Hike #473 Walk, Look, and Learn Hike #472 February 9, 2003 (Sunday) January 12, 2003 (Sunday) + Location- Beam Hill, Town of Dryden, Tompkins + Location-Cornell University natural areas on and County near campus, Ithaca + Meeting Place-400 Beam Hill Road, Town of + Meeting Place- Cornell Plantations headquarters, Dryden, Tompkins County One Plantations Road, Ithaca + Meeting Time-1:00 p.m. + Meeting Time-1 :00 p.m. earn Hill, near Hammond Hill State Forest, ~s ho~e to some of the county's best snow and ski condi om Reimers will lead this 3- to 5-mile-long hike tions, as well as CTCer Lois Chaplin. If there's through several natural areas on and near the Cor B going to be snow in February in Tompkins County, nell University campus. Depending on the weather T it will be on Beam Hill! If you are a beginner skier and and snow cover, these areas will include Gymno interested in an afternoon of skiing with some basic in sperm Slope, Beebe Lake, Mundy Wildflower Garden, struction, guidance, and support, you are invited to join Slim Jim Woods, Fall Creek Plateau, McGowan Woods, Lois at 400 Beam Hill Road. and the East Ithaca Recreation Way. Four of these places This is your chance to try out those new skis, or the have magnificent old growth forests with huge, wonderful ones you've been tumbling off of in frustration when you trees. We'll try to identify trees, berries, and wildflowers end up with a group of skiers more advanced than you are. in winter. For a preview of the areas we plan to visit on Nobody gets left behind at this event! We'll have a loop this hike, Tom recommends getting a copy of A Field through the backyard and around the pond for you to prac Guide to Cornell's Natural Areas On and Near Campus by tice some simple kick and glide techniques. Learn to fall Nancy L. Ostman and F. Robert Wesley. It is for sale at in a supporting atmosphere! Test out your clothing to see the Cornell Plantations Gift Shop. Call Tom at 607/272- how well it keeps you warm and repels moisture! Another 8679 or email him at [email protected] for more trail will be set up for those a tad more adventuresome tak information. Be sure to dress for the weather! ing you on a short loop through the woods where there's a little vertical variety.