Newsletter of the Cayuga Trails Club Founded in 1962 "to explore, enjoy, and preserve wild lands and places of natural beauty... "
January- February 2006 Winter Edition Vol. 46, Nos. 1 & 2
CTC Annual Meeting and Luncheon Reports, Elections, A wards, and a History of Connecticut Hill January 29, 2006 see page 2 for details
Service and Generosity Volunteer Group Cleans Up Trailhead for the Rest of Us
by Gary Mallow Trails Chairman number of hikers have noticed the unofficial dump site that has developed where the Abbott Loop crosses Bald Hill Road in Danby State Forest. As these things go, this one was typical: Someone nearby finds a quiet spot out in the A state forest just off a back road and dumps trash at no cost and without penalty to him. The next irresponsible person who drives by sees the trash and follows suit. Pretty soon you have an eyesore in the backwoods that hikers, cross country skiers, and trail runners have to confront every time they traverse that section. Cornell student Carlos Miguel Rymer decided to do something about this particular dump site. He organized a cleanup date, enlisted CTC member and trail adopter Herb Engman to bring his pickup, and brought two other volunteers along to help. The small group loaded the pickup three times full of trash and dropped those loads at the county transfer station. They moved a portion of the stuff from the backwoods area to a nearby road junction for the Danby authorities to pick up. There . aren't a lot of people who would have taken on a disagreeable chore like this. And there are few ways to acknowledge their public service and generosity in giving up a good portion of a Saturday to clean up our environment and make the hiking experience for the rest of us more enjoyable. Thank you Carlos, Herb, and volunteers! We appreciate everything you did for us and the environment! Two Trail Sections Need Adoption
by Gary Mallow Trails Chairman here are two sections of the Finger Lakes Trail in our area in need of adoption for maintenance. Trail adopters agree to hike their section at least three times a year to keep the trail clear and blazed in both directions. This usually involves T picking up deadfall, especially in the spring and after heavy storms, and pruning back brush and branches. Most adopters feel a sense of ownership after they've worked their section for a time. If this sounds like you, please contact me at [email protected]. The available sections are in the Town of Danby in Tompkins County (about a 20-minute drive on paved roads from Ithaca) and in Schuyler County (about a 30-minute drive from Ithaca, the last bit on an all-season gravel road). Co-President's Report
by John Andersson -.. •• ount your blessings, my mother would advise me when I was a child. I didn't really know what she meant because I wasn't experienced. Now I am older and a lot more experienced. Now . Cit is easier to see the good things. This is the time of year a lot of us reflect on these and send cards to those we appreciate. This is my Christmas card (or Holiday Greetings, if you want PC) to all you trails folks who have a part in the trail blessings I enjoyed in 2005: the CTC Executive Board and committee members, the trail maintainers, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the Finger Lakes National Forest, state parks people, trail-permitting landowners, the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC) board and officers, the Finger Lakes Land Trust, Eastern Mountain Sports, all the hikers who respect the decades of work of those who created the trails for , us, and all you dues-paying CTC members. Thank you for the opportunities and experiences in 2005 ! And I wish you all a wonderful 2006! I hope to see many of you at our annual meeting (see information below). You will hear reports from the committees and see who is awarded the Oscars! Come and mingle with the folks who worked especially hard in 2005: Sigrid and Jim Connors for the cross-Schuyler County hike series and the spring FLTC meeting, Gary Mallow for his outstanding job as trails chairman this past year, Jennifer Wilson for all the great hikes, Tom Reimers for the newsletter, Phil Dankert for getting the Guide to Trails to the stores, Suzanne Cohen who sends us all those reminder emails on hikes and trail work projects, and many other unsung "heroes." The days are getting a little bit longer now, so we have a few more minutes on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to enjoy the trails. I'll end with my wish to you all for 2006: Get out there on the trail and find some blessings to count!
You are Invited! Cayuga Trails Club Annual Meeting & Luncheon Sunday, January 29, 2006 Ramada Inn 2310 North Triphammer Road, Ithaca, New York Cash bar at 12:00 p.m., lunch at 1 :00 p.m.
This afternoon event will feature annual committee reports, election of officers for 2006, Oscar winners for distinguished service, and a presentation by local historian Neil Poppensiek titled: "Rise and Demise of the Agricultural Community on Connecticut Hill in the Last 200 Years"
Neil has lived in Tompkins County most of his life, and he has never wanted to live elsewhere. He is past president and a board member of The History Center of Tompkins County and is currently vice president of the Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park. Neil holds a Master's degree in education from Elmira College. His special interests include state and local history, hiking and backpacking, and collecting old tools of agriculture. He joined the Cayuga Trails Club last spring. Connecticut Hill in southwestern Tompkins County is a popular hiking, cross-country skiing, and birding area and many miles of the Finger Lakes Trail goes over it.
The luncheon will include the normal Sunday brunch buffet plus added entrees consisting of roast turkey and stuffing, sweet potatoes, veg~tar i an lasagna with white sauce, and grilled portabella mushrooms. All this for only $10.00 (the club will pay the gratuity). How can you beat that! The reservation form for this important event will be arriving in the mail soon. Please note that the location of this event is different from that indicated in the last issue of Cayuga Trails. That location closed recently. Contact Marsha Zgola if you have any questions at 607/546-7367 or [email protected]. Support your club. Please attend the Annual Meeting.
- 2 - Ne~\ I Urban Hike Through Cornell Plantations Cornell Plantations Snowshoe (or hike)
Walk, Look, and Learn Hike #507 Walk, Look, and learn Hike #508 January 7, 2006 (Saturday) February 25, 2006 (Saturday) + Location: Cayuga Trail from Winter Garden to Ithaca + Location: Cornell Plantations, Ithaca Falls, Ithaca + Meeting Place: Cornell Plantations Horticultural + Meeting Place: Cornell Plantations headquarters, One Center parking area at intersection of Caldwell Road Plantations Road, Ithaca and Forest Home Drive + Meeting Time: 10:00 a.m. + Meeting Time: 9:45 a.m. (we will start the snowshoe or hike promptly at l 0:00) ur hike will start with a tour of the Cornell Plan tations Winter Garden. Plantations staff describes the his easy-to-moderate outing will cover diverse habi 0 garden by saying, "For those who believe that the tats found at the eastern end of Cornell Plantations, winter landscape lacks color and interest, a visit to Ttotaling about 3.5 miles round trip. We will combine the Mullestein Family Winter Garden may change their the beginning of the Arboretum Loop with the Fall minds." To learn more, visit www.plantations.cornell.edu, Creek Path, Morgan-Smith Trail, and the Park Park Loop. click on Botanical Collections, and select the Winter Gar This would be a good opportunity for those who have den. After exploring this fascinating garden, we'll meander always wanted to try snowshoeing. Ofcourse , depending on our way along the Cayuga Trail through campus, along the snow cover, this might end up being a hike. Please bring Beebe Lake, down Fall Creek to view several spectacular water and snacks and dress in layers. Contact Suzanne falls, and end up at the bridge on Stewart A venue over Cohen at 607/272-5461 or [email protected] if you have looking magnificent Ithaca Falls. Hikers will then simply any questions about this event. tum around and go back the way they came. Those who do not want to walk back up to our place of origin can meet in Sunset Park Uust off Wyckoff Road below the intersection More outings on with Cayuga Heights Road) at 9:45 sharp to carpool to the pages 6 and 7 beginning ofthe li.ike. For more information about this event, contact leader Carol Mallison at 607/564-3396 or gimme [email protected]. Welcome to New Members Jessica and Kassi Kerns Sieglinde and Horst Schwinge
Ithaca, NY 14850 East Syracuse, NY 1 305 7
Joyce White Barbara Kocen Ithaca, NY 14850 Locke, NY 13092
- 3 - Hike Reports
October Abbott Loop Hike + Date: October 15, 2005 + Location: The Abbott Loop, Danby State Forest + Leader: Edith Cassel even members and two dogs hiked the loop clockwise and one member (Marsha Zgola) counterclockwise. We had a surprise meeting halfway. One of us (Fred Rose) had come all the way from Tully, New York. It rained when we met S on Michigan Hollow Road at noon, but soon the sun came out, and we enjoyed marvelous fall colors. Nobody was bothered by a little hail and distant thunder during the final long climb up to Thatcher's Pinnacles. A short stormy rain squall interrupted our rest at the Pinnacles and enjoyment of the sunny view only briefly. The trail was beautiful and in good condition, and our mood was cheerful all along. The two dogs decided that they could be good friends, too. We finished the hike in just a little more than four hours. Special October Hike + Date: October 23, 2005 + Location: Black Diamond and Cayuga Medical Center trails + Leader: Sigrid Connors n a somewhat drizzly afternoon 12 people enjoyed a two-mile loop hike before the CTC General Membership Meeting and dish-to-pass supper. Hikers gathered at the Tompkins County Health Department parking lot on Harris B. Dates 0 Drive in Ithaca and received a brief history of the former tuberculosis sanitarium buildings. From an elevation of 850 feet, as informed by one GPS-equipped hiker, the group progressed down the access road to connect with the southbound Black Diamond Trail. Due to the recent rain, several small gorges had well-fed waterfalls adding to the beauty of the yellow, orange, and green canopy covering the trail. Glimpses of Cayuga Lake were visible as the group headed south on the trail before turning directly north and up the steep Cayuga Medical Center trail. The tree canopy kept the hikers dry while they hiked up the hill stopping several times to enjoy the waterfalls that parallel the trail. A red-bellied woodpecker was heard, several blue jays were seen, and one very old white oak was admired as the trail neared the hospital. The trail then passed two memorial gardens and an overflow pond complete with cattails and then wound through a small pine grove before looping back on the access road. This two-mile loop hike is enjoyed by many and is easily accessed from the main roads. Walk, Look, and Learn Hike #505 + Date: November 12, 2005 I + Location: The futerloken Trail, Finger Lakes National Forest, Schuyler and Seneca counties + Leaders: Marsha Zgola and Jennifer Wilson (author of thislreport) n what has become an annual event for at least five years, 29 intrepid hikers and one dog made a final long-distance hike before deer hunting season on November 12 by completing the 12-mile-long futerloken Trail in the Finger Lakes National IForest. This hike, with Marsha Zgola leading and Jennifer Wilson sweeping, always seems to attract a large following from a wide geographic area, but never in the five or so years it's been offered was the weather so sunny and mild. The unseasonably balmy autumn day provided perfectly cool but not cold hiking conditions, and all but one hiker completed the 12-mile hike (one hiker set up his car in the middle so he could shorten his hike). One participant, a forest ranger with the National Forest Service, came along to check out trail conditions and to help out with any potential encounters with hunters. With shotgun season still a week away, the forest contained hunters using bow-and-arrows and muzzle loaders. The group stayed together well, enjoyed the beautiful vistas of Seneca Lake, and finished well before nightfall.
- 4 - Hike Reports
Walk, Look, and Learn Hike #506
+ Date: December 3, 2005 + Location: Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture, Cortland County + Leader: Phil Dankert !even CTC members and two guests--0ne traveled all the way from northern Pennsylvania- participated in a 3Y2- to 4-mile hike at the Lime Hollow Center for the Environment and Culture. As was noted in the announcement ofthis hike, ELime Hollow is a private, nonprofit organization that has a mission of providing environmental education and recreation opportunities. It was a sunny day with very little wind once we started hiking, a cha9ge from conditions at the meeting place in Ithaca. To add to the enjoyment, there was a fresh covering of snow under our feet. In the relatively small area that comprises Lime Hollow there are 16 trails ofvarying lengths that present challenges, especially ifthe leader is not completely familiar with them. It is thus not surprising that he did miss one turn and had the group heading in the wrong direction. We stopped occasionally to identify various types of trees and to visit Fossil Dorne as well as several ponds. Several hikers saw what was either a beaver or a muskrat at one of these ponds. We did get back safely! Special December Hike + Date: December 11, 2005 + Location: Cornell Plantations natural areas on and off campus + Leader: Torn Reimers ool temperatures, clouds, and snowy paths didn't stop five CTC members and one quest from enjoying a stroll along footpaths and roads ofCo rnell Plantations. Snow and time prevented the group from visiting Gymnosperm Slope and CMcGowan Woods- natural areas originally planned for visits by the leader. Instead, hikers walked around Beebe Lake and through the Mundy Wildflower Garden, the F.R. Newman Arboretum, Arboretum Meadows, Arboretum Woods, the Fall Creek Valley, the Morgan-Smith Trail, and the Mullestein Winter Garden. They also visited the Muenscher Poisonous Plant Garden near the College of Veterinary Medicine. Hikers were tested on winter tree and wildflower iden tification along the way. The eastern screech owl seen last year in a sycamore tree on a similar excursion in the wildflower garden was nowhere to be seen this year. ~~
A large group ofhikers joined Marsha Zgola and Jennifer Wilson on a beautiful day hiking the lnterloken Trail on November 12, 2005. Photo by Marsha Zgola.
- 5 - Ski Bear Swamp with Special Hike or Snowshoe Your Valentine (or not) January 28[ 2006 (Saturday) February 12, 2006 (Sunday) + Location: Finger Lak:es Trail (FLT), Town of Danby, Tompkins County + Location: Bear Swamp, Town of Niles, Cayuga County + Meeting Place: Park and Ride lot at the comer of NY Route 96B and Gunderman Road in Danby + Meeting Place: Wegman's parking lot in comer closest to Barnes and Noble bookstore, Ithaca + Meeting Time: 9:301a.m.
+ Meeting Time: 10:00 a.m. here are many sec~ons of the Finger Lakes Trail that can actually be m Adopt-a-Highway Program 2005 Wrap-Up Report by Jim Connors Adopt-a-Highway Chairman e held our fourth and final highway cleanup of2005 on October 22. A total ofeight folks joined together on a misty Saturday morning and made fast work of "our" section of NY Route 366. The year saw our first weekday evening W highway cleanups in June and August. The evening picks were well attended. We had people participate who were unable to on the traditional Saturday dates of the past. I think this will be a good tradition to follow next year. We had two perfect attendees in 2005. These are people who participated in all four df the highway cleanups. The past couple of years I have asked everyone to collect interesting items they find during the cleanups and give them to me for the purpose ofdesigning and building awards for the perfect attendees. Ifyour curiosity in piqued, make sure to attend the Cayuga Trails Club annual meeting on January 29 to learn who the perfect attendees are and wh~t their awards will be. This is my third and final year in organizing the Adopt-a-Highway Program for our trailJ club. It has been a fun experience for me as I have met new people, made stronger bonds with current friends, and helped beautify our section ofhighway . I am moving on for a new responsibility supporting the Cayuga Trails Club. Ifanyone is interestbd in having the Adopt-a-Highway baton passed to him or her, please give me a call at 607/898-4163 or send me an email [email protected]. I - 6 - .. Recent Trail Improvement Projel ts by Gary Mallow Trails Chairman October Project November Project eautiful fall weather brought out 16 volunteers, in n Saturday, No~ember 5, blessed again with good cluding five under the age of 18, to reroute the weather, nine volunteers came out to complete a BFinger Lakes Trail (FLT) offRumsey Hill Road and 0 reroute of the Finger Lakes Trail in Danby State Trumbull Corners Road in the Town of Enfield, Forest, and mosf of them put in several hours of Tompkins County, on October 29. Instead of walking on sweaty work. If you hike this section, I'm sure you'll say the shoulder of those roads, we followed a route mapped it was worth the work. out by former Trails Chair Peter Harriott in ·cooperation The location of the hew reroute is between Diane's with staff and volunteers from the Finger Lakes Land Crossingjust offMichi~an Hollow Road and the Chestnut Trust. The land trust owns and stewards the Stevenson Lean-to. The trail here followed an abandoned road for Forest Preserve, through which a segment of the trail has many years, but it had degenerated in places due to severe passed for years. erosion and wet spots that seemed to have no route for . With the raking, pruning, and chainsaw work of our standing water to drain away. The staff at Region 7 of the volunteers, the FLT now runs through a bit more of the New York State Department of Environmental Conser preserve and two adjoining privately owned land parcels. vation helped us map out a reroute for the trail earlier in Now instead of dodging pickups and hiking on gravel, the year, and a class from Cornell Outdoor Education be you '11 see some pretty good-sized hemlocks, cross a couple gan the work in October constructing some rock steps near of brooks, and hike along an old hedgerow that borders an a seasonal stream, among other things. Our group com overgrown field that was once cultivated but is slowly pleted the job with rakes and pruning loppers. The trail being succeeded by brush and small trees. There are deer now travels through a quiet pine plantation, past an in here, too. teresting old stone foundation, and generally along a small A special thank you goes to Peter, who negotiated with ridge overlooking a minor wetland. This ridge could be an landowners throughout much of 2005, and who laid out old hedgerow that was at the edge of a cultivated field the new route. Thanks to him, hikers and cross-country since there are a number of large old oaks along the new skiers can now look forward to a much better experience trail which date back at least 100 years, maybe more. in a very pretty area where we once had a lot of road-walk. Thanks to Tom Reimers, who completed the blazing for There is stili some road-walk once you leave the preserve, the reroute a few days after the group had completed but the hike in this area is immeasurably improved. clearing it. Perhaps in the future, if we can cultivate the good will of other local landowners, we will mitigate the remaining road-walk, too. Special March Ski Outing March 4, 2006 (Saturday) + Location: Highland Forest, Onondaga County + Meeting Place: Burger King parking lot on NY Route 13 in Dryden + Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. his will be a joint cross-country ski outing with the Cayuga Nordic Ski Club. Highland Forest has great ski trails for beginning skiers to advanced skiers. Depending on the ability ofparticipants we win either all ski together or divide Tinto a beginner group and a more advanced group. Plan to bring a lunch or buy your lunch at the new Highland County Park Visitors Center. Contact Joan Jedele or Jack Rueckheim at 607/539-6710 for more information. - 7 - Mark Your Calendars! Saturday, January 7, 2006 . . . . Walk, Look, and Learn Hike #507. Urban hike through Cornell Plantations. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Cornell Plantations headquarters, Ithaca. Details on page 3. Carol Mallison, leader (607/564-3396, [email protected]). Saturday, January 28 ...... Special January hike or snowshoe. Finger Lakes Trail in Town of Danby, Tompkins County. Me~t at 9:30 a.m. at the Park and Ride lot in Danby. Details on page 6 . Chris Proulx, leader (607 /279-2236, [email protected]). Sunday, January 29 . ...•• . .• Cayuga Trails Club Annual Meeting and luncheon. Ramada Inn, 2310 North Triphammer Road, Ithaca. Details on page 2. Look for reservation flyer soon in the mail. Contact Marsha Zgola for more information (mmz2@cornell .edu, 607/546-7367). Tuesday, February 7 ...... Cayuga Trails Club Executive Board meeting. 7:00 p.m. Old jail building, 125 East Court Street, Ithaca. Members welcome. Sunday, February 12 ...... Ski Bear Swamp. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Wegmaln's parking lot in corner closest to Barnes and Noble, Ithaca. Details on page 6. Jennifer Wilson (607 /753-8641, [email protected]), Marsha Zgola (607 /546-7367, [email protected]), and Seana Thrasher (607/594-4749, [email protected]), leaders. Saturday, February 25 ...... Walk, Look, and Learn Hike #508. Cornell Plantations Snowshoe (or hike). Meet at 9:45 a.m. at the Horticultural Center parking area at intersection of Caldwell Road and Forest Home Drive, Ithaca. Details on page 3. Suzanne Cohen, leader (607/272-5461, [email protected]). Saturday, March 4 ...... Special March Ski Outing. Highland Forest, Onondaga County. Meet at . 9:30 a.m. at Burger King parking lot on NY Route 13 in Dryden. Joan Jedele and Jack Rueckman, leaders (607 /539-6710). Saturday, March 11 ...... Walk, Look, and Learn Hike #509. Connecticut Hill Wildlife M anagement Area to Stevenson Forest Preserve, Tompkins County. Meet at 9 :30 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart, Ithaca. Details in the next issue of Cayuga Trails. Gary Mallow, leader (garymallow [email protected]). Cayuga Trails is published six times each year and is edited and published by Jim Connors. Comments and original contributions are welcome. Deadline for the early spring edition is February 15, 2006. Send to [email protected] or 102 Old Stage Road, Groton, NY 13073. www.lightlink.com/ctc j Cayuga Trails Club, Inc. P.O . Box 7 54 NON-PROFIT / Ithaca, NY 14851-0754 ORGANIZATION U.S. PO STAGE PAID ITHACA, NY PERMIT 94 Newsletter ofthe Cayuga Trails Club 1 rounded in 1962 "to explore, enjoy and preserve wild lands and places ofnatur al beauty... " March-April 2006 Early Spring Edition Volume 46, Nos. 3 & 4 2006 Oscar Awards by Jim and Sigrid Connors he 35•h annual presentation of the Cayuga Trails common focus of Gary's efforts. If this was not enough Club Oscar Awards was one of the activities at Gary led several hikes in 2005, was a hike group leader T the January 29, 2006 annual meeting. The Oscars during the Schuyler County Hike Series and worked at are two ceramic gray and brown squirrels all the Adopt A Highway clean-ups. Gary's stewardship awarded each year to the persons that the previous years of the trails is exemplary and his good nature serves to winners feel have made significant contributions to instill camaraderie to the work projects he organizes. benefit the Cayuga Trails Club. Last years winners Jim Sigrid Connors awarded Oscar Brown to John and Sigrid Connors started the award ceremony by Andersson for his steadfast, loyal and dependable providing some history of the Oscars. They noted when service to the Cayuga Trails Club. John consistently the Oscars shared a home at Cliff and Doris Abbott's in responds with 'yes, I can do it' when yet another 1982 they were joined by a little brown Oscar. In 2005 it volunteer activity comes up on the executive board. He appears that the squirrels were busy once again as they exemplifies the core strength and longevity of the CTC were joined by a little gray club. He has served as CTC Oscar. No matter where the Secretary, Vice President and Oscars reside in the future they President, and has held numerous will always have the company positions within the FLTC Board of one of the little Oscars. of Managers. This past year he Jim Connors awarded Oscar served on the FLTC Nominating Gray to Trails Chair Gary . '" . , .. $~·::~. _ Committee and continued in the Mallow in recognition of his . 1•;.- J.tf, \:.r";~?./'..;f~!\i~f •..., role of Co-President of the CTC. work in oversight of the almost ~,,... ~ :~~~.,;> ?~r':'.i:~;?'.,.. :;.bf:::·:·:~:·~;. H d th S -W ··-'::':·N,:'}... ·:::::"""~.,, ... ·._ ,,._.. ,,.,:,.,,., e serve as e ag agon 100 miles of trail, six lean-tos tf;~}~~~h:K~[/S7;: ..,M;i~:~ I Coordinator for the 20?~ Schu~ler and the many large and small jf.,.~:;· ":~i~(!:.. ,:,::'-.i~. ";:':.;: :· 1•;':,;~; County cross-county hiking senes. bridges which carry hikers He has updated map #'s and ' ~,1;,..-~;!,{f}·i~.?~~· .~.· ~ ...f~1·~;· ..-.D)~:;~r-~:).i~ t{·:•.:,"·l" .... ··---· ~·~ safely across the trail' s ,,.-< , · ···~' ' i· ·· ;i;._:,>~;.tr.-,;.~;~~ landowner records, sent countless tributaries. In this effort Gary . -~ letters and served as a diplomatic wears many hats. He spends · <: bridge to resolve or ass~st in countless hours in organizing, John Andersson and Gary Mallow display their well deserved ruffled feathers in the hiking procurement and delivery of Oscars at the 2006 annual meeting. Photo by Jim Connors realm. You see John helping at materials, and working at trail work parties for trail cleaning, maintenance projects. Gary works with land owners that outhouse projects and Adopt a Highway clean-ups. You have graciously allowed the trail to pass on their will find him alongside you on the trail keeping you property to assure the CTC stays in their good standing. company and keeping the CTC alive and thriving. John Rerouting of trails when necessary to avoid trouble spots is an end-to-ender and is currently working on caused by nature's work, changes in land ownership and completion of the Branch Trails. Thank you John for all sometimes strained human interactions is another you do. I Co-Presidents Report By Phil Dankert f this week, the second in the month of February, is an indication the prolonged January thaw has finally ended and we are back in the grip of "old man winter." I am sure many of I you hope this is true perhaps especially those who cross country ski and snow shoe. The few of us who prefer to downhill ski have been much more fortunate, even if conditions have at times been marginal. As we begin a new year I know that John joins me in offering thanks for the incredible job done by our executive board in 2005. Their hard work certainly/made ours that much easier. As in any organization changes are inevitable from one year to the next and this is certainly true for the CTC in 2006. Jim Connors takes over as newsletter editor. Tom Reimers, who held this position for many years, decided that it was finally time to "retire." In addition Jennifer Wilson has stepped down as Walk, Look and Learn Hike chairperson. This position is now under the capable leadership of Carol Mallison and Chris Proulx. A big "thank you" to Jennifer and Tom for the jobs they did for us, often going "beyond the call of duty." This will be another busy year for the CTC. Some of the activities planned for 2006 will be covered further on in the issue. I will mention just one. Later this year a new edition (the 10th) of Guide to Trails of the Finger Lakes Region will be published. The Guide Book Committee, consisting of Tom Reimers, Suzanne Cohen, Sigrid Connors and Joe Dabes, is already hard at work. Related to this, the Finger Lakes Trail Conference is coming out w~th new maps which will replace the former "blue" ones that many have used at one time or another. Based on global positioning satellite (GPS) technology, and in color, they include contour lines, campsites, shelters, road names, non-FLT trails, and much more. Target availability is early March. We will incorporate the relevant maps into our new guide. To quote one of the committee members "these maps are truly magnificent." The Annual Meeting and Luncheon, held on January 29 was an excellent start for 2006. It was attended by 72 individuals. For me the highlight was the excellent presentation by local historian (and CTC member) Neil Poppensiek on the "Rise and Demise of the Agiicultural Community on Connecticut Hill in the Last 200 Years." Congratulations go out to the 2005 winners of the Oscar awards, Gary Mallow and John Andersson. I close, as I always seem to, with a plea to our members. As a volunteer organization we are only as effective as the effo1t we put into it. We can always use more help on our various conunittees and in keeping the portion of the FLT we maintain in a condition that we can be proud of. Membership Report By Suzanne Cohen hank you to all who renewed your m~mbership. For those who have not yet enewed, this will be your last Tnewsletter. Please consider renewing today! Our new members are: Lynne Cherry Trevor French Richard Manning Chris Putnam Freeville, NY 13068 Ithaca, NY 14850 Benton, PA 17814 Ithaca, NY 14850 Bill Perkett Wendy Stevenson Carmen Collazo Geri, Carl, Kevin. Rochester. NY 14617 Chris & Sarah Judd Springwater, NY 14560 Ithaca, NY 14850 Jacqueline and Mike Powers Trumansburg, NY 14886 Amalia Weinberg Micheline Contiguglia Ithaca, NY 14850 Ithaca, NY 14850 Ithaca, NY 14850 2 Next WLL Hikes Special Hike - Introduction strege Hill to Being a Hike Leader Nature Preserve Walk, Look and Learn Hike #509 Walk, Look and Learn Hike #510 March 25, 2006 (Saturday) April 9, 2006 (Sunday) • Location: Van Lone Hill Loop, Connecticut Hill • Location: Steege Hill Nature Preserve, Town of Big Wildlife Management Area, Schuyler County Flats, Chemung County + Meeting Place: Enfield Elementary School on NY • Meeting Place: Behind Taco Bell on Route 13 Route 327 just south of the junctio~ with NY Route across from the K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca 79 in the Town of Enfield, Tompkins County • Meeting Time: 1:00 p.rn. + Meeting Time: 10:00 a.m. hris Proulx will lead a four-mile hike and nature ayuga Trails Club hike leaders, Chris Proulx and walk at Steege Hill, one of the Finger Lake Land Carol Mallison, will lead a special hike of the CTrust's nature preserves near Big Flats. CVan Lone Hill Loop trail, a beautiful, rugged Participants may have the opportunity to see route that winds through several gorges. The some of the abundant wildlife in this 700-acre natural hike actually combines the main Finger Lakes Trail with treasure trove. The forest has experienced a wonderful the Cayuta Gulf Trail, the Swan Hill Trail, and the Van recovery since significant logging ended in the 1970s. Lone Hill Trail for a 5.5 mile loop beginning and ending The hike will include views of the Chemung River, and about 400 feet southeast of Schuyler County Route 6. although there are timber rattlesnakes on the property, While walking alongside scenic gorges, up hills covered they should be hibernating for a couple more weeks. with hardwoods and through pine plantations, the Everyone should dress for whatever the weather might observant visitor is likely to see wildlife, or at least an have to offer (layered clothing) and bring substantial interesting array of footprint stories written in the early fluids and snacks. Chris Proulx will meet individuals spring frost. Bear, fox, and many other creatures have who wish to carpool in the parking lot next to the Taco been spotted here. Participants are advised to bring Bell restaurant off NY Route 13 south of downtown plen~ of fluids and a snack for this outing, and wear or Ithaca. For more information, call Chris at 607/279-2236, stow m a daypack appropriate footwear and clothing for chris.proulx@gmail. com. the hike and season. This hike could be ·a moderately challenging, late-winter hike due to the trail conditions, which include areas of deep, wet snow interspersed with a few pockets of slippery mud! Carol and Chris will use More outings on ..... this hike to orient those hikers interested in leading or co-leading hikes for the Cayuga Trail Club. Please join in for a great hike and fmd out just how easy being a hike leader can be! All are welcome even if you are not interested in leading a hike. From the Enfield school, participants will carpool the approximately 4 miles west on Route 79 and 6 miles south along Route 6 to reach the trailhead south of Cayutaville_ For more information, contact Chris at 607- 279-2236 or [email protected], or Carol at ...pages 6 and 7. gimmechocolate@twcny. rr. com_ 3 Hike Report Walk Look and Learn Hike #507 + Date: Saturday, Januruy 7 + Location: Urban Hike Through Cornell Plantations + Leader: Carol Mallison n a relatively sunny day, 9 members and 6 guests met in the parking lot by the Cornell Plantations store. We started with an amateur's tour of the fascinating and surprisingly colorful Mullestein Family Winter Garden. If 0 you find that yow- yard or garden lacks interest during the winter months, take a trip to this inspiring example of what can be accomplished with vegetative color, texture and shape. One does not expect to encounter much wildlife on an urban trail. However, while heading down the Cayuga Trail towards Stewart Avenue, sharp eyes located a large hawk perched in the treetops surveying the Fall Creek gorge for perhaps a late breakfast. On our return trip, we headed around Beebe Lake and were shocked to observe a great blue heron in flight. I'm certain I've never seen one at the same time there's snow on the ground. Returning to home base, several deer stood nonchalantly poking through the brush as we gathered to watch. Then, we were rewarded with the sighting of one of Marcia's favorite discoveries, the native American phone poll. Enjoying the presence of the sun, three of us extended our hike through the Mundy Wildflower Garden (still no screech owl) and around other parts of the Plantations. CarolMo llison '.s group ofwint er hikers enjoy the Com e/I Plantations on their January 7 hike. Photo by John Andersson National Trails Day was a Record By Tom Reimers he Cayuga Trail Club celebrated National Trail ~ Day on June 4, ~ 005 , by building a ~ew outhou s~ ~the Chestnut Lean-to on the Finger Lakes Trail (see report m summer 2005 issue of Cayuga Trails). Our actlv1ty was one of T 1,132 NTD events that were registered with the American Hiking Society. This is a 22 percent increase over 2004 events. More than 121,000 trail enthusiasts participated nationwide, a 16 percei;it increase over 2004. (source American Hiker, winter 2005). National Trails Day is sponsored by the American Hiking Society (AHS) and is considered America's largest celebration of the outdoors. For more information on National Trails Day, visit the AHS website www.americanhiking. org. 4 Hike Reports Special January Hike + Date: January 28, 2006 + Location: Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) in Town of Danby, Tompkins County + Leaders: Chris Proulx bright, sunny, and an unseasonably mild morning greeted 20 hikers, including 10 CTC members who completed a 3.6 mile hike on the FLT A in Danby. The mild winter weather left the trail mostly bare with just a bit of snow in spots so snowshoes were not needed. The group hlked east from the end of Town Line Road to Comfort Road through open fields, small ravines, and a few wooded groves. The hikers enjoyed tremendous views of the sunounding countryside including Connecticut Hill and the surrounding area. The group was able to move briskly which left most hikers wishing for a longer hike to continue stretching their winter legs. Yervant Terzian and Patricia Fernandez de Castro make their wcy down the trail. Photo by Carol Bebb. Special February Outing + Date: February 12, 2006 + Location: Bear Swamp, Cayuga County + Co-leaders: Marsha Zgola, Seana Thrasher, Jennifer Wilson hree members and six guests braved marginal ski conditions to enjoy a sunny, glorious day of trekking along the extensive trails and a few backwoods routes of Bear Swamp. A few participants even coaxed along their Tsweethearts for the exciting Valentine's Weekend outing_ This was a joint outing with the CTC, Cayuga Nordic Ski Club and the Finger Lakes Chapter of the ADK. With no packed snow base and only 7-9 inches of snow on the ground in most places, the participants took their chances that day, especially on the steeper down hills with no layers of snow to even out the bumps and in some cases with rocks and gravel poking through the frost. Whether experienced or a novice on skis, probably everyone took at least a few spills that day. Be that as it may, exclamations of enjoyment arose from most because of the fast, exciting trail conditions as well as the sparkling majesty of the bitterly cold day. Everyone sampled the red and blue trails for about three hours and four of the more adventurous tarried to try the more distant yellow trails along the park's far perimeter. Perhaps most memorable portion was a long, gliding backcountry route of pristine beauty that the group took in order to avoid sharing an overly-worn snowmobile trail. Afterward, some of the companions gathered at the Colonial Lodge Restaurant for steaming bowls of soup and other warm, rejuvenating fare. On Your Next Hike Help Train Search-and·Rescue Dogs lub member and search-dog trainer Tom Connors time, hikers can continue on their way, content with the is looking for club members who would be knowledge they've helped·their community without too Cinterested in getting "found" while out on their much effort. usual hikes. Tom, who is new to the area and has Those interested should contact Tom at 607/564- worked with search and rescue dogs for 15 years, needs 0457 or [email protected]. "victims" to keep his veteran K9, named Tango, (a 9/11 responder) sharp and to hone his up-and-coming K9, named Coda, skills. "Victims" will simply tell Tom of their planned hike and he will start 30-60 minutes behind their starting time. All hikers would have to do is stop moving as the dog approaches. After about 10 minutes of reward (play) 5 Special March Hike SpeciJI April Hike Rescheduled Date: March 18, 2006 (Saturday) April 1, 2006 (Saturday) + Location: Connecticut Hill, Tompkins County · + Location: Cayuta Gulf, South of Cayuta Lake, Schuyler County + Meeting Place: Behind Taco Bell on Route 13 across from the K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca + Meeting Place: Behind Taco Bell on Route 13 across from the K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca + Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. + Meeting Time: 9:00 a.m. His will be a 8-9 mile brisk stroll through the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area, his hike will take place in an area very close to T ending at Stevenson Forest Preserve in Newfield. our well-traveled "gulf' hike from County Road 6 Those attending the Annual Meeting will have a Ton Gulf Road along the first gulf or gorge of the chance to consider what we learned from our guest glacial Cayuta Lake. There are three gulfs speaker, Neil Poppensiek, regarding the history of draining Cayuta Lake to the broad former river valley Connecticut Hill. We'll hike near many of the graveyards (NY Route 13) leading to Cayuga Lake. Footbridges on that hold the history of the area, along many of the old the main Finger Lakes Trail are near the beginning of the roads, and within shouting distance of the old second gorge, which widens out (a former lake) near the foundations of homes of the people who settled there in second bridge. While trudging up the steep trail the the 19th century. As we continue our jaunt, we'll enjoy second and third gulfs continue on with the third traveling along a new reroute that takes us off Rumsey continuing just before it emerges into a wide field Hill and Trumbull Comers Roads, through a pretty adjoining NY State route 13. Because of topographical section of woods and over two small streams. This new mapping difficulties, this last gulf was missed for some section just opened in October of2005. years and is therefore referred to as "The Lost Gorge" or We'll conclude our hike in the Stevenson Forest Hendershot Gorge. Preserve, opened to the public through its generous We'll meet at Taco Bell and drive out to a parking donation to the Finger Lakes Land Trust in 1995. area near Alpine Junction and begin hiking by 9:45 ain, Originally just 25 acres, the preserve has grown to over accomplishing a roWld trip exploration of old logging 140 acres, some of which is a patch of undisturbed forest trails leading to the Lost Gorge. The estimated time for that is quickly becoming a rarity. A number of the trees the hike is three hours, which includes steep climbs, that create a dense canopy there had their start at least beautiful woods, and occasionally your old friend "mud". 150 years ago. Where patches of sunlight shine through Good hiking boots, a hiking stick and plenty of fluids are breaks in the canopy, many fems and wildflowers thrive. suggested. Hike leader Ed Hart will describe the geology Another feature of the preserve are the hemlock stumps as we go along. For more information contact Ed at that make for a humbling discovery. Although most trees [email protected] or 607/272-2943. die when they are logged, some hemlocks manage to survive. In a valiant effort to heal themselves, they continue to grow and are recognized by the curled edges National Trails Day of their wounds. The preserve also has vernal ponds that suppo1t a variety of aquatic life. Since we'll be hiking in e sure to keep Saturday, June 3, 2006 open for early spring, we might witness the migration of spotted our annual National Trails Day project and hike. salamanders from their winter hideaways to the shallow B Last year we took on the considerable work of water. Wood frogs also breed in these pools. rebuilding the outhouse serving the Chestnut Be prepared to move right along for the majority of Lean-to in Danby State Forest and this year's project this brisk hike until we reach the preserve, where we'll promises to be just as challenging. Participants will be take a little time to discover it. Bring plenty of fluids, a eligible for a limited number of American Hiking snack, clothing appropriate for early spring weather, and Society T-shirts, water bottles provided by EMS, and broken-in hiking boots. Those who wish to meet at one other goodies to add a little fun to the festivities. This of the trail-heads can wait to meet the group at the year we plan to add a hike in addition to whatever work endpoint, the parking area for the preserve or the is planned. So plan ahead and circle your calendar. More beginning point where the FLT crosses Ridge Road. For in the next newsletter or contact Gary Mallow at: more information, contact leader Gary Mallow at: [email protected]. garyma/low [email protected]. 6 Special Earth Day Hike April 23, 2006 (Sunday) · + Location: 111e Cayuga Trail, Town of Dryden, Tompkins County + Meeting Place: Liddell Laboratory on Freese Road in Varna • Meeting Time: 1 :00 p.m. atu1:t1ay, April 22, marks the 36lh anniver!>ary uf Earth Day. To celebrate this very important event, the Cayuga Trails Club will sponsor the 15th annual Earih Day Hike on the Cayuga Trail on Sunday, April 23. This 5-mile loop Shike will go through Cornell Plantations natural areas. Tom Reimers will lead the ~ke from Liddell Laboratory beginning at I :00 p.m. The Cayuga Trails Club staiied building the Cayuga Trail in 1964; it has been expanded severaJ times in its history. The most recent e~pansion was done in 2000 after a short section of trail along Fall Creek was washed out during heavy spring snow melt and rains. The section was replaced by a very scenic reroute following both sides of a gorge entering Fall Creek. The Cayuga Trail takes hikers along the high banks and water's edge of Fall Creek, through hardwood forests, pine plantations, and interesting areas of lush ferns and haw-thorns. This hike annually features early spring wildflowers, birds, railroad histo1y and lore, magnificent vistas. interesting geological features, and the beauty of very wild sections of Fall Creek and Cornell 's natural areas. The Cayuga Trail is considered one of the most beautiful foot trails on university property. Wear· sturdy footwear and b1ing rain gear and drinking water. Liddell Lab is a yellowish building at the top of the winding pm1 of Freese Road in Varna To get there turn onto one end of Freese Road from NY Route 366 in Varna or onto the other end from Hanshaw Road. Liddell Lab is not the same as the Dyce Honey Bee Laborato1y which is also on Freese Road. Call Tom at 607/272-8679 (email nyhiker@loca/net.cum) if you would like more information. Special May Hike Bristol Hills Branch Series May 13, 2006 (Saturday) Summer 2006 (Saturdays) ' • Location: Virgil Mow1tain Loop, Co1ila.nd County ohn Andersson is planning to complete the Bristol Hills Branch in five hikes from May 13 to October 7. + Meeting Place: CorneU ·'O" Parking Lot at JThese will be moderate speed and arrangements are lntersection of Rt. 366 and Caldwell Road informal. If you would like to carpool from Ithaca, • Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. contact John a week or so before each hike to confirm the hike is a "go". In general, we plan to meet at end of ?in hike leader Edith Cassel on a 7.5 mile hike that each hike at 10:00 am. and shuttle to the beginning. We includes the Virgil Mountain Loop. The hike will will hike from North to South. The following dates, Jstart at about IO a.m. where the Finger Lakes Trail times and meeting places are subject to change: (FLT) crosses Bleck Road located 0.9 miles south of the intersection of Hauck Hill and Bleck Roads. We will May 13: Map Bl access point 1 (Ontario County Park) start from Bleck Road and hike on the FLT east along to Access 5 (Rt. 245 in Naples) 12.80 miles and across creeks, past the Greek Peak ski area to the top June 10: Map Bl access point 5 to 8 on Map B2 (Valley of Virgil Mountain. From there we will hike under a Road north ofltaly) 10.04 miles power line for about 3/4 miles, enjoying distant July: no hike this month. views. Returning along old roads where farm houses August 19: Map B2 access point 8 to 11 (Pulteney once stood we may see some daffodils in bloom. We Road south ofltaly Hill) 10.32 miles complete lhe Virgil Mountain Loop and retwn on the Sept 9: Map B2 access point 11 to 16 Map B3 (Station FLT back to the cars. Finally, we hike half a mile west Road east ofNYS 53) 10.74 miles on the FLT to an idyllic view of the hills. Contact Edith October 7: Map B3 access 16 to 19 (end of Clark Hill at 607/273 -1708 or [email protected] if you have any Road, east ofNYS 53) 11.19 miles questions. Please," no dogs! Experience required, wear hiking boots, have plenty of water and lunch, and be prepared for the weather. Cohtact John at 607/539-7096 or [email protected] if you have any questions. 7 April Trails Project: May Trails Project is a Another Bridge to Cross Weekday Mystery • Date: April 8, 2006 Saturday + Date: May 3, 2006 Wednesday • Location: Logan Creek Trail Crossing, off Logan • Location: It's a mystery! Rd., Schuyler County • Meeting Place: Behind Taco Bell on Route 13 • Meeting Place: Behind Taco Bell on Route 13 across from the K-Mart Plaza, lthaca across from the K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca • Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. sharp • Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. s this newsletter went to press, the May trail ur first official trail project for 2006 will occur project was yet to be determined. As of late on Saturday, April 15th and will look familiar to A winter we had one trail reroute in progress, a Othe many volunteers who worked on this new couple of cons~ction projects on the board, and bridge last spring. The Logan Creek bridge has enough dead-fall on the trail for several days of work. So been, let's say, "relocated" by Mother Nature over the our May project could be any of the above, depending winter, and we will be putting it back in place for a on how things develop over the sp1ing. proper crossing of the creek again. This project should Whatever we end up doing is bound to provide some be a lot less labor intensive than the original construction, fresh air and exercise, and the camaraderie of working but then again, we will be attempting to strengthen the towards a common goal. You can count on at least 3 or 4 structure at the same time. So come prepared with work hours of work with fellow hikers on the trail. gloves and a hammer if you have one. Tools and Women and hikers under the age of 25 are especially construction materials will be provided by the club, but welcome, as these groups are under-represented on most any additional tools you bring from home will be helpful. of our trail maintenance projects. You need not bring Recommended is a change of socks and a second pair of tools or have any experience to contribute, but a good hiking boots or sneakers as we will be working in and pair of work gloves is recommended to prevent blisters. around the creek Depending on the water level you may Bring plenty of water, a snack, and layers of clothing experience wet feet. As always, bring plenty of water, a appropriate for the weather. Contact Gary Mallow at: snack, and dress appropriately in layers for weather [email protected] for more infonnation. conditions. You need not have construction experience to Trail Section Needs a participate in trail projects, and, in fact, many inexperienced members find a sense of camaraderie and Little Love satisfaction in building something as structural as a bridge. Those who are uncomfortable using hammers, nterested in getting out in the woods every month or pikes, and wrenches will be given routine trail so? Like to work on your own schedule? Want to maintenance duty on nearby trail to clear dead-fall and I spend a little time making one of our biking trails renew blazes with brush and paint. Female club enjoyable for other hikers, skiers, and trail runners? members and members of either gender under the age of Have we got an oppo~nity for you! Just a 20 minute 25 are especially encomaged to participate, as these drive from Ithaca there is a short section of trail that is in groups are under-represented at · trail maintenance need of a little love. To take it on as its trail adopter, you projects. · agree to work on it at least 3 times a year. That usually If water levels are too high we will reserve May 6 as means using loppers to cut back branches, brambles and a make-up date. Contact trails chair Gary Mallow at brush. You would pick up or kick aside dead tree limbs garymal/[email protected] ifyo u have any questions. and other debris and keep this section clearly blazed with paint supplied by the club. Tools, instruction, trail maintenance guidance materials, and suppo1t from the trails chairman are provided gratis. . It can be a very satisfying experience to be a trail adopter who provides/ some ve1y tangible benefit to people who share your values. Ifyou're interested, please contact Cayuga Trails Club Chairman Gary Mallow at [email protected]. 8 Excerpts from the Cayuga Trails Club Anj1 ual Meeting by Chris Proulx new Oscar has joined the family ~ The arrival of a baby gray Oscar was one of the many highlights of the annual meeting of the Cayuga Trails Club. The meeting and brunch was held on Sunday, January 29 at the Ramada Inn A in Lansing. Over 70 members attended the event and enjoyed a br1111ch buffet, committee reports, and a presentation on the history of Connecticut Hill. Co-president Phil Dankert faciliiated the meeting and introduced a special guest, Finger Lakes Trail Conference Executive Director Gene Bavis. Gene offered the FLTC's thanks for the overa11 efforts by the CTC in support of the Finger Lakes Trail and especially noted tpe leadership of Sigrid and Jim Connors who led the cross-county hike series in 2004 (Tompkins) and 2005 (Schuyler). The treasurer's reports included great news as the Club earned $7191 in revenue last year due in large part to brisk sales of our trail guide. After expenses, the club earned a $1500 profit in 2005. According to the various committee chairs 2005 was a busy year as the Club coordinated 27 hikes and outings (including our 500th WLL), organized eight significant trail work sessions, published six newsletters, cleaned our adopted stretch of highway four times, held four social events, hosted the FLTC Spring Conference and added four inches of materials and photos to our Olin Library archive at Cornell. Jim Connors, chair of the nominating committee, presented the slate of officers for 2006 for a vote of the members. Jay Zitter moved to accept the slate, Sigrid Co1U1ors seconded the motion, and the ayes carried the day. The following board members were re-elected: Phil Danke1t and John Andersson, Co-Presidents; Jim Connors, VP; Jack VanDerZee, Treasurer; Chris Proulx, Secretaiy; Sigrid Connors, Member at Large, and Vito Brancata was elected to his first year of a two year term as Member at Large. 111e 35th aiurnal presentation of the Oscar's, the CTC's achievement award, included a sho1t history of the award before the presentation of the awards. Gary Mallow, CTC trail chairman received the Oscar Gray and the new.baby Oscar Gray, which was born dwing the past year at the home of Jim and Sigrid Connors. Oscar Brown and her baby were awarded to John Andersson, CTC Co-President, for his steadfast dedication .on behalf of the Club and our work. The meeting was ended with ai1 interesting and in-depth presentation of the History of Connecticut Hill, with Neil Poppenseik. Cayuga Trails Club Display board is "on display" at the CTC Annual CTC member tmd FLTC board manager Jay Ziller and FLTC Executive ,\leelin g. Photo by Jim Connors. Director Gene Bavis al the Annual ,\,fee ting. Photo by Jim Connors. 9 Compromise Spawns Massive Preserve in British Columbia By Gary Mallow ast month the Associated Press (AP) reported that the province of British Columbia, Canada has unveiled a 16 million acre park/preserve, a protected area more than twice the size of Yellowstone, teeming with grizzly bears, L wolves and wild salmon in the ancestral home of many native tribes. A preserve this size dwarfs any natural area we have nearby, with the possible exception of the Adirondack "Park", but I think some of the details of this compromise between enviromnentalists and loggers in what is now called the "Great Bear Rainforest" are instructive. My reading of the AP article is that the new park/preserve is the result of an interesting accord between governments, aboriginal First Nations, the logging industry and environmentalists. The details I quote come from my reading of the AP article. "The park/preserve will stretch 250 miles along British Columbia's rugged Pacific coastline - the ancestral home of groups whose cultures date back thousands of years. The area also sustains a rare white bear found only in British Columbia. According to B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, the agreement on these areas represents an unprecedented collaboration between First Nations, industry, local governments and many other stakeholders in how they manage the vast richness ofB.C.'s coast for the benefit of all British Cohunbians. Campbell was accompanied by native dancers and drummers for the announcement and formal First Nations Blessing. Campbell said 4.4 million acres would be protected outright and managed as parkland, with another 11.6 million run under an ecosystem management plan to ensure sustainable forestry with minimal impact on the environment. Full implementation of the project is not expected until 2009." "British Columbia's lush evergreen forests have been the scene of decades of confrontation between env.iromnentalists and loggers. Successful boycott campaigns in the 1990's led to large international companies turning away from British Columbia paper and wood products, forcing the government to find a negotiated solution. Lisa Matthaus of the SieITa Club of Canada was quoted as saying that British Colombians are showing that it is possible to protect the environment and provide the economic foundation for healthy communities. Matthaus is coast campaign coordinator for the British Columbia chapter." Someone once said the devil is in the details, and of course the plan outlined by the B.C. authorities allows another 3 years use of these natural resources before implementation. Fully 72% of the land will remain open to loggers and other developers of natural resources when the plan is in place. However, the key is that these trees and minerals will be harvested in a sustainable manner thanks to these joint efforts. Lost and Found Adopt-A-Highway By Jim Connors iker Dave Burnett found a Toyota automobile n the last newsletter I mentioned that there were two key attached to a remote door opener on the traiJ perfect attendees for the 2005 Adopt-A-Hjgl1way H between Michigan Hollow Road and the I clean up season. Gary Mallow and Sigrid Connors bridge. There is a bit of rust on the key ring. This were awarded "Perfect Attendance" trophies for their type of key and remote are quite costly to replace. Call attendance at all four highway clean-ups. Gary was Dave at 607/539-7977 if you believe this key to be yours. awarded the "Tail Pipe Lock Trophy", while Sigrid received the "Objects are Closer that they Appear Trophy". Both trophies were hand made using items Cayuga Trails is published six times a year and is picked up, cleaned and saved during the four clean-ups. edited and published by Jim Connors. Comments Congratulations to Gary and Sigrid! and original contributions are welcome. Deadline The Cayuga Trails Club executive board's latest new for the late spring edition is April 15, 2006. Send member, Vito Brancato, volunteered to be the new [email protected] or 102 Old Stage Road, Groton, NY 13073 Adopt-A- Highway chairperson. Thanks Vito! The first Highway Cleanup for 2006 will be April 29 at 10 a.m. Meet at the comer of Route 366 and Caldwell Road in Cornell lot "O". 10 Report on Executive Board Meeting he Executive Board of the Cayuga Trails Club met for a regular meeting on Tuesday February 5, Trail adopter is still needed in Danby from Comfort T2006, in the Tompkins County Court House Road to Bruce Hill Road. He announced several reroutes conference room. Board members present were planned for 2006 and received the final revision of the John Andersson, Vito Brancata, Suzanne Cohen, Jim new maps for our sections from Joe Dabes. Connors, Sigrid Connors, Phil Dankert, Carol Mallison, Newsletter: Jim, the new editor, reported that the Gary Mallow, Chris Proulx, Jack Van DerZee a11d deadline for material for the next newsletter is February Marsha Zgola. Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) 15. Jack reported that he renewed the bulk mail permit. Ranger Dave Walslrom attended as a guest Highway cleanup: Jim reported that we still need a Co-president Phil Dankert called the meeting to new chair for this committee. order at 7:05 p.m. Treasurer Jack VanDerZee distributed Other Business: 2006 Budget. Jim moved that we the monthly revenue and expenses report as well as the adopt the budget as presented at our last meeting. John 2006 budget. seconded. Approved w1animously. Walk Look and Learn Hikes: Carol distributed We need a Guidebook and a Highway Cleanup chair. current schedule for 2006; goal is 2-3 events per month. Vito agreed to serve as Highway Cleanup chair. ln addition to Club hikes are the FLT C Steuben County National Trails Day, June 3. Save the date note to go Hike Series and Bristol Hills Hike Series. in the newsletter. Suzanne will order the supply kit. Guidebook: Ithaca Festival Phil read an e-mail parade. We decided from Torn on not to participate in progress of editing the parade. Chris and the new maps. suggested we place Sigrid noted there an ad in the Festival was discussion to program. Carol will change fonnat and get advertising rates. size to conform to Dave Walstrom, other FLT guides asked whether we and use the same were interested in printer. Suzanne having the new noted that the CTC District Ranger for guide contains more The 2006 Cayuga Trails Club Executive Board. Photo by Marsha Zgola the FLNF, Michael Liu, narrative descriptions than attend one of our meetings. other FLT guides. There was much discussion about the The board members thought it would be a great idea. pros and cons of the changes in size and the potential Dave \-vill also check to see if the Interpretative price of the maps. The next version of the Guidebook Association would sell our Guide Book at the FLNF should be ready for printing by late summer according to office which board members supported. Tom's report. Printing would occur to coincide with the CTC 2006 Executive Board current Guide Book inventory depletion. Membership: Suzarule repo1ted 185 memberships Co-presidents ...... John Anderson, Phil Dankert including a significant number ofrenewals. Vice President ...... Jim Connors Social: Marsha reported that 72 people were in Secretary ...... Chris Proulx attendance at the Annual Meeting. Many board members Treasurer ...... Jack Van DerZee thought the location was convenient. Walk, Look& Learn Hikes ...... Carol Mallison, Chris Proulx Trails: Gary reported on the status of many trail Finance ...... June Meyer sections. The Logan Creek Bridge washed out and will Guide Book ...... open be our next project in April. Rogers Hlll Lean-to requires Membership ...... Suzanne Cohen minor roof repair. There is extensive deadfall in Treman Social ...... Marsha Zgola Trails ...... Gary Mallow Park, and between Traber and Michigan Hollow Road in Newslener ...... Jim Connors Danby. Gary will organize a reconnaissance of our trails Archives/Historian ...... Barbara Morley six lean-to's and outhouses. Publicity ...... Marsha Zgola Adopt-A-Highway ...... Vito Brancato Members at Large ...... Sigrid Connors, Vito Brancato 11 Mark Your Calendar S~turday , March 18, 2006 .. _.... Special hike. Brisk stroll through the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area. Details on page 6. Meet at 9:30 a.m. behind Taco Bell on Route 13 across from the K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Gary Mallow, leader ([email protected]). Saturday, March 25 .... . _ .. __ __ . Walk, Look and Learn Hike# 509. Van Lone Hill Loop, Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area. Details on page 3. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Enfield Elementary School on NY Route 327 just south of the junction with NY Route 79 in the Town of Enfield. Co leaders Chris Proulx (607/279-2236 or [email protected]) & Carol Mallison (gimmechoco/[email protected]). Saturday, April 1 ...... Special hike. Cayuta Gulf, South of Cayuta Lake. Details on pg 6. Meet at 9:00 a.m. behind Taco Bell on Route 13 across from the K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Ed Hart, leader (607/272-2943 or edsu/[email protected]). Sunday, April 2 ...... _. . . . . Daylights savings time begins. Set clocks ahead 1 hour. Tuesday, April 4 ...... Cayuga Trails Club Executive Board Meeting. Meet at 7:00 p.i;n: Old jail building, 125 Court Street, Ithaca. Members welcome. Saturday, April 8 ...... Logan Creek bridge repair. Details on page 8. Meet at 9:30 a.m. behind Taco Bell on Route 13 across from the K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Gary Mallow, leader ([email protected]). Sunday, April 9 ...... _... Walk, Look and Learn Hike #510. Steege Hill Nature Preserve, Town of Big Flats. Detail on page 3. Meet at 1 :00 p.m behind Taco Bell on Route 13 across from the K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Chris Proulx , leader (607/279-2236 or [email protected]). Saturday, April 22 .. .. . _...... Steuben County Hike Series. See upcoming FLTC newsletter or website www.fingerlakestrail.com for registration details. Sunday, April 23 ...... Earth Day Hike of the Cayuga Trail. Meet at 1: 00 p.m. at Liddell Laboratory on Freese Road in Varna. Details on page 7. Tom Reimers, leader (607/272-8679 or [email protected]). Saturday, April 29 ...... Adopt-A-Highway Program spring clean up of NYS Route 366. Meet just before 10:00 a.m. in Cornell's "O" parking lot at the intersection of Route 366 and Caldwell Road. Vito Brancato, leader (607/272-8851 or [email protected]). Wednesday, May 3 ...... Mystery Trail Maintenance project. Details on page 8. Meet at 9:30 a.m. behind Taco Bell on Route 13 across from the K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Gary Mallow, leader (garyma/[email protected]). Friday - Sunday, May 5-7 ...... Annual Spring meeting of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Norwich. Hosted by the Bullthistle Hikers. Program, registration form, events schedule, etc can be found at www.fingerlakestrail.com. Saturday, May 13 Special hike. Virgil Loop. Details on page 7. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Cornell "O" Parking Lot at Intersection of Rt. 366 and Caldwell Road. Edith Cassel, leader (607/273-1708 or [email protected]). Special hike. Bristol Hills Branch. Details on page 7. John Andersson, leader (607/539- 7096 or [email protected]). Cayuga Trails Club, Inc. P.O. Box 754 NON-PROFIT Ithaca, NY 14851-0754 ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ITHACA, NY PERMIT NO. 94 Cayuga Trails Newsletter of the Cayuga Trails Club Founded in 1962 “to explore, enjoy and preserve wild lands and places of natural beauty…” May-June 2006 Spring Edition Volume 46, Nos. 5 & 6 Cayuga Trails Club to Build Bridge, Lead Hike in National Celebration of the Outdoors on June 3rd he Cayuga Trails Club will join the National above Fall Creek, offering dramatic vistas of this Central Trails Day celebrations this year on the Cayuga New York treasure. The trail is a popular destination for TTra il. A footbridge will be constructed and a con- hiking, skiing, and running for Cornell students and local currently held hike will be led. The Cayuga Trail residents. is a footpath located on Cornell University land in Ithaca The event will kick off at 10:00 a.m. at the con- that is maintained wholly by Cayuga Trails Club struction site with a brief ceremony describing Cayuga members. Trails Club participation in National Trails Day, a raffle The bridge to be built, called a of some hiking accouterments, and re- “Connors Bridge”, is a low environ- freshments. Participants will then be of- mental impact design constructed pri- fered the opportunity to join either the marily of pressure treated lumber, built construction crew or the hike group. just wide enough for a single hiker, but With several thousand events hosted not nearly wide enough for snow- by trail clubs, conservation organiza- mobiles or ATV’s. It will span a small tions, agencies, and businesses, National ravine near the Cornell Recreation Pic- Trails Day is considered America's larg- nic Pavilion within sight of Hanshaw est celebration of the outdoors. For more Road. Volunteers from the club will pre- information on National Trails Day, construct the bridge which will then be visit the American Hiking Society's dismantled and hauled to its final resting You will be greeted by this charming website at www.americanhiking.org. spot. The Cayuga Trails Club has tested character only on the Cayuga Trail! Participants not familiar with the this bridge design at two other locations on the Finger construction site location are invited to meet to carpool Lakes Trail in 2005. at 9:30 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell a- For those who would rather not participate in the cross NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. For more construction project, a member led hike is offered along information on our local event, contact Gary Mallow at the Cayuga Trail. Part of this trail traverses cliffs high [email protected] or (607) 564-7938. Ithaca Festival Parade By Carol Maillison arch with other trail lovers in the first ever “Ithaca United Parade Coalition of Trail Lovers” parade float. Meet at Washington Park on Thursday, June 1, at 5:00 p.m. The parade starts at 6:00 p.m. and our theme is “Joie de M Vivre”. Participants will include Cayuga Trails Club, Cayuga Waterfront Trail Initiative, Black Diamond Trail Enthusiasts Network, and Curb Your Car Coalition, all accompanied by the “Contradictions” playing infectious fiddle and horn music. I will have more news later about what to wear and a date for a workday making festive gear depicting what gives you joy about trails. Wearing a National Trails Day T-shirt is one idea if you have one. The more participants the merrier as parade watchers will see how important the trails and trail networks are to our community. If you’d like to be a participant, need more information, or have access to a flatbed truck, contact organizer Vikki Armstrong, (607) 277-0309, [email protected] or Carol Mallison, (607) 564-3396, [email protected]. Co-presidents Report By John Andersson ounty Comprehensive Plans seem like a long ways from hiking. However as most of you know hiking is not just putting one foot in front of the other in the woods anymore. The C woods belong to somebody - governments, not-for-profit agencies, private companies or individuals. These somebodies having many uses for the land, are receiving increasing pressure to use the land from many other interests, and not all those interests are compatible with people walking on the little brown line. Hiking groups, including the Cayuga Trails Club (CTC) and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC), work with many individuals and agencies that directly own or control the land we walk upon. But we need all the help we can get to promote and protect our hiking trails. We need to educate and advocate with municipal governments even if they don’t directly own hiking trails. An opportunity in Tompkins County exists NOW. The Tompkins County Department of Planning reached out to the CTC and FLTC last year to help with “Natural Features Focus Areas”. We responded with a list of, and discussion of, “vulnerable” trail sections, that is, trail sections across private lands that if permission were lost would result in long road walks, lack of access to substantial tracts of State Forest, or other difficulties. Now, the Tompkins County Planning Department is moving forward with engaging the public in discussion about natural areas and outdoor recreation. They have planned a series of public meetings to discuss stewardship of natural features, working landscapes, and outdoor recreation in Tompkins County. The first three of these meetings will focus on the eastern portion of the County and will be held: 1) Tuesday, May 2nd, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Lansing Town Hall at 29 Auburn Rd., Lansing, 2) Monday, May 22nd, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Public Library at 101 E. Green St., Ithaca, and 3) Tuesday, May 23rd, 7:00- 8:30 p.m. at the McLean Fire Hall at 2 McLean Square, McLean. These meetings support the implementation of the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan Natural Features Focus Area Project, which calls for establishing a more strategic and coordinated approach to protecting the natural, economic, recreational, and aesthetic value of lands in the County. The meetings are designed to give the public an opportunity to learn about these resources, contribute local knowledge, and discuss management and conservation issues. For more information, visit www.tompkins-co.org/NFFA/project.htm or contact the Tompkins County Planning Department at (607) 274-5560. I encourage you to take the time to attend a meeting and/or check out the Tompkins County website. Having the importance of hiking trails recognized by municipalities, and beginning public discussions about what it takes to keep trails viable for the future, are very important to the future of hiking clubs. Please invest time now to keep hiking trials a priority. See you on the Trail (or at a meeting!) Welcome New Members! by Suzanne Cohen Mike Breen Patrick McMahon Todd and Wendy VanValkenburg Kasey Melski Stephanie Greenwood Metta Winter David Marsh Patty Millard Ken and Jan Zeserson -2- Hike Reports Walk Look and Learn Hike #508 Walk Look and Learn Hike #509 ♦ Date: Saturday, February 25, 2006 ♦ Date: Saturday, March 25, 2006 ♦ Location: Cornell Plantations, Ithaca ♦ Location: Van Lone Loop, Schuyler County ♦ Leader: Phil Davis ♦ Leaders: Chris Proulx and Carol Mallison n a windy morning made bearable in the woods, hris Proulx and Carol Mallison led an early five members and four guests met at the Cornell spring hike on the Van Lone Loop and Cayuta O Plantations Arboretum for a leg stretching morn- CGulf sections of the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) in ing jaunt. Skirting the deciduous Slim Jim Schuyler County. Early morning snow showers Woods and descending into the coniferous Jackson and gray skies did not deter the 13 members and two Grove, we passed a couple of hundred-year-old hem- guests from experiencing a rugged and scenic hike in the locks uprooted by a winter storm. Along the sculpture western portion of the Connecticut Hill wildlife man- garden that makes one easily forget the days when agement area. A light snow cover and some mud made blocks of poured concrete passed as art, we made our for some slippery footing on a few of the hillier sections. way up to the Morgan Smith Trail, and peered down at Hikers were able to more fully view and appreciate the one of the largest and straightest black cherry trees. We glacially carved terrain that was made more visible continued along the ridge of the Park and down the steps because of the lack of tree foliage. The group stopped for to Fall Creek. After a final interpretive ramble through a a short lunch break at the junction of Van Lone Loop section of old maple, basswood and hemlock that skirts and the main FLT. The snowy ground did not prevent the creek, we retraced our steps back to the start of our several prepared hikers from resting their legs on tarps hike. they had brought with them. Carol, the hike leader, also happily recovered her water bottle that had been left behind during a hike on the previous weekend. The group finished the hike walking through the Cayuta Gulf, noting the relatively low water levels in the Cayuta Creek and sharing, with newcomers to the trail, the history of the construction of the two substantial bridges on the route. . Walk Look and Learn Hike #510 ♦ Date: Sunday, April 9, 20 06 ♦ Location: Steege Hill Preserve, Town of Big Flats, Chemung County ♦ Leader: Chris Proulx ald Eagle spotted on Cayuga Trails Club (CTC) wildlife including tree swallows, turkey vultures, white- hike! Several CTC members and guests had the tailed deer, a coal skink, mallard ducks, Allegheny Brare opportunity to see the amazing wingspan and mound ants, a ruf f ed grouse, and several eastern red beauty of the American Bald Eagle while hiking newts. The group also observed distinct evidence of on the eastern side of the Steege Hill Preserve. porcupine habitat, although the actual critter was not The hikers were part of a group of 11 members and spotted. The open trees provided the group with six guests who visited the Preserve, owned by the Finger expansive views of the Chemung River as it makes it Lakes Land Trust, on a bright and cool Sunday afternoon. way through a glacially formed valley at the base of The eagle soared, at eye level, in front of about ten Steege Hill. hikers as they climbed up a steep hill. The Preserve, CTC member, Chris Proulx, co-ordinated the hike. located in Big Flats, NY, is also home to the Eastern The preserve steward, Bob Corneau, and CTC member Timber Rattlesnake. This rattlesnake typically hiber- Tom Reimers provided valuable interpretation of both nates until late April and was not seen on the hike. the natural and man-made history of the 700 acre The group rambled through 3.5 miles of well- preserve marked trails and spotted several different species of -3- Hike Rep orts Special March Hike #1 ♦ Date: March 4, 2006 ♦ Location: Highland Forest Ski Outing, Onondaga County ♦ Leader: Joan Jedele espite poor skiing conditions forcing changes to Highland Forest offers separate snowshoeing trails. the outing location, six skiers carpooled in two You can also rent snowshoes and skis on site. The skiing D cars to Highland Forest where we met up with and snowshoeing season will be over by the time you two other skiers. We decided to break up into read this, but there is always next year. Hiking and groups with one skiing the Northview Loop, Southside biking are other activities to be enjoyed at Highland Loop and the Southside Extension for a total of 14.2 km. Forest. If you want more information, contact Highland The other two groups skied the Northview Loop and Forest at (315) 683-5550. Southside Loop for a total of 9.3 km. It was cold and blustery in the morning but the skiing conditions were good as it was calm and beautiful in the woods with new fallen snow on the trees and ground. Surprisingly we all returned to the lodge within about 15 minutes of each other and enjoyed lunch together. After lunch three skiers went home, four skiers went back out and skied the East Loop, and one skier relaxed by the fire and read a book. Everyone was happy that we finally had some The group enjoys lunch in the lodge. Photo by Joan Jedele good skiing conditions. Special March Hike #2 ♦ Date: March 18, 2006 ♦ Location: Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area, Tompkins County ♦ Leaders: Gary Mallow aybe it was the accumulated effect of a winter's worth of cabin fever. We were pleased to have 19 brave souls, members and guests, come out for a hike on a day in which the weather forecasters predicted just about M everything: wind of up to 30 mph, snow flurries and showers, and depending on who you listened to, high temperatures anywhere from the low 20's to mid 30's. The group was rewarded with an enjoyable, moderately paced hike in the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area. Starting at Ridge Road the trail took us across private property and ended in the Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Stevenson Forest Preserve. We were lucky the ground was still solid so we encountered very little mud, a pleasant surprise for mid March. The buds on the vegetation and trees still hadn't made their appearance, and there was very little wildlife or birdsong to experience, so we made do with entertaining ourselves. Despite the grays and browns that dominate the woods this time of year, hikers noticed some sizable conks having the density of the trees they inhabit, and some colorful molds. We saw ample evidence of Pileated Woodpeckers seeking a tasty treat by the destruction they wreaked on dead trees inhabited by larvae or insects. One of our group claimed he actually saw a Pileated Woodpecker but since he was the only one who saw it, it may have been a case of hiker fatigue. For early Spring this section of trail was in good shape. There was minimal deadfall and pretty consistent blazing. Thanks to the trail adopters for their hard work and dedication in maintaining this trail last year. We still have sizable sections of road walk along Griffin and Connecticut Hill Roads and await some good hearted volunteer to step forward and approach local landowners for permission to cross their property for an alternative trail. All-in-all it was encouraging to see so many hikers willing to brave the elements on a day when they could have easily justified staying home to watch the NCAA basketball tournament. . -4- Special April Hike ♦ Date: April 1, 2006 ♦ Location: Cayuta Gulf, ♦ Leader: Ed Hart Schuyler County he 3-1/2 hour hike on Saturday April Fools Day conven ed at our Taco Bell meeting site at 9 a.m. We proceeded to the Van Lone Loop trail head at the junction of County Route 6 and Gulf Road i n Schuyler County and started T hiking at 10 a.m. The trail follows the white blazed main trail until the steep uphill turn to the left just past the 2nd bridge. This is the entrance to the second of three glacially formed outlet gorges below Cayuta Lake. The last of the three gorges or gulfs is known as the "Lost" or Hendershot gorge because of being overlooked by surveyors in 1893 and then wasn't "discovered" until 1950. Our group of 13 hikers used strong hiking and climbing skills and enthusiasm to happily traverse all three gorges. The end of the hike required a 1000 feet of climb over trails traversing the side of the lost gorge to reach a long, steep de- scent to a pre-placed car at the bottom of Pony Hollow gorge on NY State Route 13, about a mile northeast of Alpine Junction. It was perfect hiking weather in spite of a heavy thunder shower at dawn. We experienced occasional sun, no rain, and a temperature of about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. May Trail Work Project May 3, 2006 (Wednesday) ♦ Location: Rogers Hill Lean-to, Schuyler County ♦ Meeting Place: Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca ♦ Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. he May trail work project will be a minor repair to the roof of the Rogers Hill Lean-to. This will involve some carpentry and roofing. A small tree crunched the lean-to over the winter and part of the roof needs to be replaced. TExpect to work for two or three hours not counting travel time. Travel to the trail head from Ithaca by car takes about 30 minutes one way. Plan to meet Trails Chair Gary Mallow at Taco Bell to arrange car pooling. You need not bring tools or have carpentry or roofing experience to participate, although these will be helpful. A sturdy pair of work gloves is recommended. Bring water, a snack, and layers of clothing appropriate for the weather. Contact Gary Mallow at [email protected] or (607) 564-7938 for more information. July Trail Work Project July 8, 2006 (Saturday) ♦ Location: Texas Hollow State Forest, Schuyler County ♦ Meeting Place: Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. ♦ Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. ope you can make it to what should be a fun and satisfying outing as our July trail work project is in the Texas Hollow State Forest. We currently have a section that follows a small stream bed for a distance uphill from the HSteam Mill Road trail head until you reach the top of the hill at Newtown Road. This section of the Finger Lakes Trail is suffering erosion problems that are not helped by hiking and the occasional mis-placed horse rider. Former Trails Chair Kurt Seitz has mapped out an alternative path that will be a lot less muddy. The re-route has been approved by our friends at Region 8 Department of Environmental Conservation. This project will involve pruning of brush, brambles and briers, removal of deadfall, some sawing up of the larger deadfall, painting blazes and construction of a few water bars. Expect to work for about four hours, not including travel time to and from the trailhead. It takes about 30 minutes to drive to the trailhead from Ithaca, so a full day of ac- tivities could be about five hours. You need not have trail maintenance or trail building experience to come along with us on this project. Tools will be supplied by the club. Women and those under age 25 are encouraged to come, as these groups are typically under represented on our trail maintenance and building projects. We strongly recommend bringing a sturdy pair of leather gloves, and wearing waterproof hiking boots. Bring plenty of water, a lunch, and clothing appropriate for mid summer weather. For more information contact Gary Mallow at [email protected] or (607) 564-7938. -5- Birding at the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve Walk, Look and Learn Hike # 511 June 11, 2006 (Sunday) ♦ Location: The Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, West Danby, Tompkins County ♦ Meeting Place: Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca, or the preserve parking area one-half mile south of West Danby on NY Route 34/96 (east side - look for the large green sign) ♦ Meeting Times: 9:00 a.m. in Ithaca or 9:30 a.m. at the preserve parking area om Reimers will lead a leisurely hike through the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve primarily to identify birds, bird songs and calls. We may even see river otters in the large beaver pond or Coleman Lake! The preserve consists Tof about 450 acres of forests, meadows, brushland, streams, ponds, and other wetlands. The diverse habitats found in the preserve are home to an equally diverse variety of flora and fauna. Some rare species have been identified in the preserve, including the exceedingly rare endemic grass, Calamagrostis porteri, ssp. perplexa. There are several marked trails at the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, and the public is welcome to visit. Trails on the property lead to the old fields, forests, Lake Coleman, and the beaver pond. The preserve is adjacent to Danby State Forest and is the property you see directly below Thatcher's Pinnacles on the Abbott Loop. One of the goals of the Finger Lakes Land Trust, which owns the preserve, and the Cornell Institute for Research in Chemical Ecology was to make this property the world's first temperate-zone preserve for research in biodiversity and chemical ecology. With this aim in mind, scientists and students at Cornell now use the preserve to study chemical interactions of organisms there. The preserve is also used by the public for hiking, skiing, birding, and nature walks. It also provides a place for quiet contemplation. You can preview this nature preserve and other lands protected by the Finger Lakes Land Trust at www.fllt.org. Contact Tom Reimers if you have any questions at [email protected] or (607) 272-8679. Don't forget to bring your binoculars! Special May Hike May 27, 2006 (Saturday) ♦ Location: The Abbott Loop Trail, Danby State lar ledge called Thatcher's Pinnacles at an elevation of Forest, Tompkins County 1,700 feet. Fairly rugged climbs and descents will be hard to avoid on this hike which will be done at a ♦ Meeting Place: Danby Park and Ride lot on the moderate pace. corner of NY Route 96B and Gunderman Road, six The Danby Park and Ride is on the west side of miles south of Ithaca Route 96B just south of Gunderman Road. Those com- ♦ Meeting Time: 10:00 a.m. muting from the southwest can meet at the north trail crossing on Michigan Hollow Road. Please allow time hil Dankert will lead a hike of the Abbott Loop, for the main group from Danby to show up. Participants that features a scenic overlook of Inlet Valley in are advised to bring plenty of fluids, lunch and snacks, P the town of Danby. Created by long-time Cayuga and clothing appropriate for the weather. For more infor- Trails Club members Doris and Cliff Abbott, the mation contact Phil at [email protected] or call trail is 8.4 miles long and includes 1.7 miles of the main him at (607) 257-2578. Finger Lakes Trail. Participants will climb to a spectacu- More hikes listed on page 11 -6- Cayuga Trails Club Mem bership List 2006 Tear out and save these pages All area codes are 607 unless indicated otherwise. Asterick (*) indicates charter member. Please report corrections to Suzanne Cohen, Membership Committee chairperson, at (607) 272-5461 or [email protected]. Abbott, Doris & Cliff Andersson, John & Luanne Barcelo, Lucy Bavis, Eugene Bergmark, William & Donna Bernstein, Jonathan Blake, Gail A. and Jennifer Dotson Blake, Martha Boratynski, Marion and George Eisman Botie, Robin Bradbury, Peter & Cindy Brancato, Vito & Ben Breen, Mike Breslin, Richard Brown, Lincoln and June Meyer *Burnett, Carol & Dave Burns, Elsie U. Campbell, Dave and Tom Connors Carruth, Bradford Cassel, Edith Chamberlain, John and Barbara Morley Chandler, Adam & Sarah Cherry, Lynne Cohen, Suzanne and Phil Davis Coleman, Jim & Ellen Collazo, Carmen Connolly, Jadwiga & Peter Connors, Sigrid & Jim Contiguglia, Michelle Dabes, Joe and Kathy Brennan Dankert, Philip Darrow, Frank & Catherine Day, Stacy de Roos, Jan & Molly deBoer, Tob & Joan Demo, Bill & Sarah DeRemer, Florence DeStefano, Anthony & Marilyn Dick, Richard & Delores Donovan, Joseph Dreiling, Mary Durant, Katherine Engle, Michael Engman, Herb Every, Thomas -7- Fair, Bill and Jay Zitter Fairand, Kathy & Kevin Farney, Keitha Firebaugh, John & Francille Frank, Linda and Len Cohen French, Trevor Gaeta, Paul & Vicky Gillespie, Virginia Greene, Sandra E. Greenwood, Stephanie Gudeman, Tom Gyrisco, Valerie Habel, Robert Hansen, Betty Harriott, Peter* & Mary Lou Harris, Beth Hart, Edward Henderson, Pamela Herrick, Marcia Hess, George & Susan Hopkins, Roger & Ruth Hullar, Ted & Joan Ingraham, Tony Johnston, Roxanna Judd, Geri, Carl, Kevin, Chris & Sarah Kalka, Paul Keeton, Anna and Michael Rogers Kerns, Jessica & Kassi Klepack, Bill & Carol Kocen, Barbara Kooperman, David & Denise Koski, Sharon Lawrence, Gregory Lee, Gundy LeMoine, Nadine Leso, Laura Levine, Gilbert & Ilma Little, George Loomis, Linda Luft, Roy and Nancy Emerson Lymberis, Gwyneth Maginnity, Kate and Ken Dalle Mallison, Carol Mallison, Nathan Mallow, Gary Manning, Richard Manzella, Fran & Fred Marisa, Rich & Tracy Marks, Lawrence & Cornelia Marsh, David Mattice, Linda D. Maxwell , Eileen & Richard McMahon, Patrick Melski, Kasey -8- Merrill, Susan Meyers-Wallen, Vicki Millard, Patty Mills, Harold Miner, Todd Morris, John A.X. Muenster, Anna Marie Nussbaum, Michael & Barbara Nuzzo, Victoria Perkett, Bill Petryszak, Ben Poppensiek, Neil Powers, Jacqueline & Mike Proulx, Chris and Varya Siegel Putnam, Chris Reimers, Tom Rose, Fred Rueckheim, Jack and Joan Jedele Ruppert, David Salino, Karen Sandsted, Reenie Schurman, Dave & Jean Schwartz, David I. Schwinge, Sieglinde & Horst Scott , Danny & Kristin Seitz, Kurt and Paula McConnell Sidote, Edward Sjamaar, Reyer Skawski, John Smith , Calvin D. Spellman, Caroline Steinhart, Gail and Joe McMahon Stevenson, Wendy Straight, Clara Sullivan, Jae Thrasher, Seana and Scott Zimmerman Turner, Lowell Updike, Donna Van Valkenburg, Todd & Wendy Vandam, Nick and Lucy Gagliardo VanDerzee, Jack VanEtten, Janet Weinberg, Amalia West, Pat White, Joyce Wilkin, Brigitte & Harvey Wilson, Jennifer Wilson, Don Winter, Metta Wodzinski, Richard & Claudia Zeserson, Ken & Jan Zgola, Marsha -9- April Trail Project Report By Gary Mallow Trails Chairman leven hearty Cayuga Trail Club members and The finishing touches included a new handrail and friends came out to rebuild our Tug Hollow gold plaque recognizing landowners Neal and Diane E Creek “Connors Bridge” on a day that started Melvany, who have contributed so much to the club and windy with temperatures in the 30's, but ended the Finger Lakes Trail over the years. Neal went the with sunshine, blue skies and some warming temp- extra mile again for us. With tractor and wagon he eratures. hauled our materials and tools from the nearest trailhead Bridge designer and en- to the work site, and braved gineer Jim Connors led this thick brush and high water to ambitious project. The work get the post hole digger into consisted of removing the position. Diane provided sup- damaged parts of the orig- port and provided wonderful inal bridge, which was in- home baked goods for the stalled last year, but didn't many hungry workers. The survive the incredibly high Melvaney’s were extremely water that this creek some- supportive. They maintain the times accommodates. New section of trail we built the post holes were dug, some bridge on. by hand, and some with the Thanks to the volunteers aid of a tractor mounted who came out for this project. mechanical post-hole digger. Their willing hands, com- The old bridge was then put bined with Jim's design, pre- back in a new more stable paration, and leadership, and The completed span across Tug Hollow Creek. position with new anchor Photos by Jim Connors the Melvaney's support and posts. That was half the job. help, proved to be a winning Two new sections, prefabricated by Jim at home over the combination on this day, and helped put one harried previous few weeks, were then placed into position, Trail Chairman's mind at ease. Hikers once again have a bolted to the old sections, and secured with new posts. safe and easy way across Tug Hollow Creek. Note that The new bridge is now double the size of the old one, or we have referred to this location as the Logan Creek 32 feet. crossing. The correct name is Tug Hollow Creek. Landowners Neal and Diane Melvaney receive nameplate for bridge from Cayuga Trails Club Chair Gary Mallow. -10- Special June Hike Special July Hike June 25, 2006 (Sunday) July 12, 2006 (Wednesday) ♦ Location: Lime Hollow Center, Cortland, Cortland ♦ Location: McIlroy Nature Preserve in Summerhill, County Cayuga County ♦ Meeting Place: Lime Hollow Visitor Center, ♦ Meeting Place: Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell Cortland across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca ♦ Meeting Time: 10:00 a.m. ♦ Meeting Time: 6:00 a.m. im Connors will lead a short hike of the Phillips ary Mallow will lead an early morning trek to Memorial Trail which features Chicago Bog, a truly the McIlroy Nature Preserve in Summerhill. The Junique geological feature, with an equally unique Gpreserve is owned by the Finger Lakes Land wildlife and fauna profile. We will meet at the Lime Trust and has approximately 157 acres of swamp Hollow Center for Environment and Culture visitor forest along the Lake Como outlet. Located in a pocket center parking lot on Gracie Road and make our way to of the high plateau that runs from L ocke to Homer, the Chica go B og via the interconnecting trails. Bring your preserve is bisected by Fall Creek near its headwaters. binoculars, as you may see some fine feathered friends, The cool temperatures and northern plant species sup- along with water and weather appropriate clothing. port breeding populations of northern birds such as You can reach the visitors center by traveling Route Dark-eyed Junco, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Canada 13 to the south of Cortland and turning onto Gracie Road. Warbler, and the Mourning Warbler. Bring a morning Contact Jim Connors at [email protected] or (607) snack and your binoculars for this special mid week hike. 898-4163 if you have any questions. Hikers should meet at the Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Looking for a Good Hike? Ithaca, to carpool to the trail. Contact Gary Mallow at [email protected] or (607) 564-7938 for By Carol Mallison more information. ebsite www.localhikes.com provides informa- Cayuga Trails is published six times a year and is tion on local hiking opportunities near both edited and published by Jim Connors. Comments large and small metropolitan areas in the and original contributions are welcome. Deadline W for the summer edition is June 15, 2006. Send to United States. You can find the perfect trail [email protected] or 102 Old Stage Road, by selecting your metro area to browse available hikes, Groton, NY 13073 or by using the search feature to find the trails closest to Cayuga Trails Club website: your home or office. The hikes on this site were con- www.lightlink.com/ctc tributed by volunteer local hike reporters from descrip- tions around the country. At www.johnpool.net/hiking you will find maps, CTC 2006 Executive Board and photos to help you plan your next outdoor excursion in Tompkins County. Co-presidents ……….... John Andersson, Phil Dankert Vice President ………… Jim Connors Secretary ……………… Chris Proulx Treasurer ……………… Jack VanDerZee Walk, Look & Learn Hikes …………… Carol Mallison, Chris Proulx Finance ………………... June Meyer Guide Book …………… Tom Reimers Membership …………... Suzanne Cohen Social ………………….. Marsha Zgola Trails ………………….. Gary Mallow Newsletter …………….. Jim Connors Archives/Historian ……. Barbara Morley Publicity ………………. Marsha Zgola Adopt-A-Highway ……. Vito Brancato Members at Large……... Sigrid Connors, Vito Brancato -11- Mark Your Calendar Wednesday, May 3 ...... Trails Project. Rogers Hill Lean-to. Details on page 5. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Gary Mallow, leader (607) 564-7938 or ([email protected]). Saturday, May 13 ...... Special hike. Virgil Loop. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Cornell “O” Parking Lot at Intersection of Rt. 366 and Caldwell Road. Edith Cassel, leader (607) 273-1708 or ([email protected]). See early Spring newsletter for details. Special hike. Bristol Hills Branch. John Andersson, leader (607) 539-7096 or ([email protected]). See early Spring newsletter for details. Saturday, May 27 ...... Special hike. Abbott Loop. Details on page 6. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Danby Park and Ride lot on the corner of NY Route 96 and Gunderman Road, six miles south of Ithaca. Phil Dankert, leader (607) 257-2578 or ([email protected]). Saturday, June 3 ...... National Trails Day activities. Details on page 1. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Gary Mallow, leader (607) 564-7938 or ([email protected]). Tuesday, June 6 ...... Cayuga Tr ails Club Executive Board Meeting. Meet at 7:00 p.m at either Scott Heyman Conference Room, Old Jail, 125 East Court Street, Ithaca, or, second floor conference room Court House 320 North Tioga Street, Ithaca. Members welcome. Saturday, June 10 ...... Special hike. Bristol Hills Branch. John Andersson, leader (607) 539-7096 or ([email protected]). See early Spring newsletter for details. Sunday, June 11 ...... Walk, Look and Learn Hike #511, Lindsey-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve. Details on page 6. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K- Mart Plaza, Ithaca, or, at 9:30 a.m. at the preserve parking area one-half mile south of West Danby on NY Route 34/96. Tom Reimers, leader (607) 272-8679 or ([email protected]). Sunday, June 25 ...... Special hike. Lime Hollow. Details on page 11. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Lime Hollow visitor center parking lot on Gracie Road in Cortland. Jim Connors, leader (607) 898-4163 or ([email protected]). Tuesday, June 27 ...... Adopt-A-Highway Program clean up of NYS Route 366. Meet just before 6:30 p.m. in Cornell’s “O” parking lot at the intersection of Route 366 and Caldwell Road. Vito Brancato, leader (607) 272-8851 or ([email protected]). Saturday, July 8 ...... Trails Project. Texas Hollow State Forest. Details on page 5. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Gary Mallow, leader (607) 564-7938 or ([email protected]). Wednesday, July 12 ...... Special hike. McIlroy Nature Preserve, Summerhill. Details on page 11. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Gary Mallow, leader (607) 564-7938 or ([email protected]). Cayuga Trails Club, Inc. P.O. Box 754 NON-PROFIT Ithaca, NY 14851-0754 ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROCHESTER, NY PERMIT NO. 51 CayugaCCCayugaayugaayuga TrailsT railsrailsrails Newsletter of the Cayuga Trails Club Founded in 1962 “to explore, enjoy and preserve wild lands and places of natural beauty…” July-August 2006 Summer Edition Volume 46, Nos. 7 & 8 Blazing and Conserving Tom Reimers, Named Conservationist of the Year by the Finger Lakes Land Trust By Caissa Willmer om Reimers has helped maintain thousands of what I did to protect the land. I thank the Land Trust for miles of hiking trails from North Dakota to the holding the conservation easement and for protecting my T Adirondacks and the trails of the Finger Lakes property long after I'm no longer the owner.” Trail Conference and the Cayuga Trails Club. Tom writes, “I moved to New York State in 1978, Steward of the Finger Lakes Land Trust’s King Preserve and immediately fell in love with its natural beauty. in Richford, he has created, re-routed, and maintained Coming from the Midwest, I had a very mistaken trails there, and worked on and blazed trails at other impression that New York was highways, buildings, and preserves. parking lots. Wow! Was I ever pleasantly surprised? A member of the Finger After becoming a New Yorker, I Lakes Land Trust since its soon discovered that much of the beginning, Tom helped, in natural beauty and open space was essence, to blaze that trail, too. disappearing and becoming high- “He has been tireless on ways, buildings, and parking lots. I behalf of land protection heard about the Land Trust in 1989 throughout our region,” as- and thought that this was the or- serts Betsy Darlington, “help- ganization that could prevent some ing with site visits, training of this environmental destruction new easement stewards, ser- from happening. And I was right! ving for nine years on the It's a wonderful organization. Giv- Land Trust’s Board (including en the political climate in Washing- as president) and in many ton, what the Land Trust does could other capacities. Tom is as not be more important for the region, dedicated to land conservation state, country, and world.” as anyone I know.” Jim Kersting names Tom Reimers as the Finger Lakes The Land Trust is thankful in Quiet and unassuming, he Land Trust “Conservationist of the Year” during the turn, that Tom Reimers has come was flabbergasted when told FLLT annual meeting on April 29, 2006. along, as Betsy adds, “to keep the he had been chosen Conservationist of the Year. He’s Land Trust on track with its many land protection proud of his preservation work, however, explaining, “I projects as chair of the Land Committee and Vice bought 53 acres of mostly forested land in southern President for Land Conservation. He's well organized Tompkins County, for personal recreation (hiking, and runs wonderfully efficient meetings. He does a huge wildflowers, mushrooms, animals, etc.) and protection. I amount of work.” The land Trust is proud and grateful almost immediately granted a conservation easement on for the dedicated efforts of Tom Reimers. Editor’s note: the property to the Land Trust. I visit the property almost Thanks go to Betsy Darlington and Bill Hecht for weekly throughout the year, and I’m happy and proud of providing information to the editor for this article. Co-presidents Report By Phil Dankert or this article I am following a pattern that I started in 2004. It is based on some of the various activities of the Cayuga Trails Club in its earlier years. I hope that you will enjoy, as much as F I have, learning what our club was involved in 40 years ago. I took much of what you read below from the June, July, September and October 1966 issues of Cayuga Trails. The June issue, under Trail Work Parties, noted that this project was the South Danby Lean-to. After giving directions to the lean-to it was stated that "Men will work on fireplace and 'THE' building. Women to do stain work. Wear old clothes, bring gloves...and liquid garden sprayers to spray stain." In the July issue the Executive Committee at a recent meeting discussed, among other items: "What to do with one hundred and more requests for the guide book---all due to the New York Times article." "How to get more men working on trail shelters." "How to correctly place scientific names in the newsletter." The September issue, reporting on WLL Hike #59 commented "Twenty-eight energetic hikers showed up to walk on the 'worst' section of the proposed Finger Lakes Trail - across Willseyville Valley from Eastman Hill to Bald Hill. The problems of trail routing were seen in the form of junk cars placed right in the middle of the proposed trail [sounds familiar; some things never change]. A welcome dish-to-pass supper awaited the hikers at Sobel's Log Cabin." This same issue under Trail Conditions stated that "following a beer party someone left fire burning in cabin, [on Connecticut Hill?], burned hole in floor before the Cameron's discovered this and firemen put it out." Finally, in the October issue note was made of a social event, on the 16th, where those in attendance "including several children enjoyed hot dogs, hot drinks, doughnuts, and apples at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Zimmer...Mr. Quackenbush, a graduate student of Cornell who gave us a very enjoyable and informative talk on outer space." Returning briefly to the present I want to thank Gary Mallow, our Trails Chair, for spearheading the efforts to build a bridge on the Cayuga Trail on National Trails Day. Although the weather wasn't very cooperative we had an excellent turnout and the bridge is now securely in place. There will be additional details relating to this project elsewhere in this issue. Before closing I want to say goodbye and the very best to one of our members who is moving from Ithaca. Kurt Seitz spent countless hours working on various activities for the Cayuga Trails Club while he was among us. Quoting from an e-mail he just sent to me: "Paula and I will be leaving for Albany the last weekend of July (permanently this time, unfortunately)...I'll be starting graduate school at University of Albany in September majoring in Geography, concentrating in GIS." Hopefully the weather will very soon become more early summer like and we will receive more sun and less rain. Get out and enjoy the various trails that are so close to us. Of course, always keep in mind that these trails are in good shape because of the many dedicated individuals, both members and non-members including landowners, who spend a great deal of time working on them. As I am sure Gary Mallow will remind us all that we can always use more trail maintainers. Please consider joining the group. Cayuga Trails Club Picnic August 9, 2006 (Wednesday) at 6:15pm nce again it is time for the Cayuga Trails Club (CTC) Annual Picnic. We have reserved the middle pavilion at Taughannock State Park located eight miles north of Ithaca, or four miles south of Trumansburg, along NYS Route 89. Upon entering the park, take a left turn at the fork heading toward the marina. You will see the middle O th pavilion. Look for the CTC banner. Make sure to mark your calendar for August 9 at 6:15pm! The club will provide charcoal, plates, cups, and plasticware. Please bring drinks, something to grill and a dish to pass. Come early, stay late, bring a friend and enjoy the camaraderie. We might even be able to squeeze in a hike after dinner. Questions? Contact Marsha Zgola at (607) 546-7367 or [email protected]. - 2 - Club Completes Connors Bridge on National Trails Day By Gary Mallow his year's celebration of National Trails Day entailed the completion of our third Connors Bridge on the Cayuga Trail, just behind the picnic pavilion used by Cornell Recreation Connection. Fourteen adult club members and one T member under age four braved a cold, wet June 3rd Saturday to complete the job. The festivities were kicked off by Co-President Phil Dankert, who welcomed everyone to what has been billed as the nation's largest celebration of the outdoors. President Dankert made a point of thanking, in particular, Cornell University and Nancy Ostman, who supervises Cornell's natural areas. The Cayuga Trail exists entirely on Cornell land and our hiking trail exists solely due to Cornell's generosity and cooperation. Dankert also called attention to Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) and their local store manager Jeff Randall for their generous contributions this year, which provided funds to purchase construction materials for the bridge. EMS has participated in National Trails Day with the club for a number of years, and nationally is a major sponsor of this event. We then divided up the goodies provided by the American Hiking Society and Eric Mastroberti of EMS. Tom Reimers and Chris Proulx made out best, with each receiving a hiking medical/first aid pack in the raffle; Jack Vanderzee went home with an EMS discount card. Everyone who wanted one got a National Trails Day T-shirt. Chris Proulx offered to lead a hike, but this group was more focused on building, so we all set to work constructing the third Connors Bridge, a low environmental impact footbridge just 18 inches wide and 16 feet long. All the design work, including the addition of a handrail, was completed by Jim Connors. This time, Jim had help prefabricating the bridge materials at home from Jack Vanderzee and Gary Mallow, which saved a lot of time on the day of construction. The work crew put the puzzle pieces together on site under Jim's supervision and Jim poured concrete into each post-hole to secure them in place. In addition, some gravel steps were built on a muddy, slippery bank on one side of the bridge, and some extensive stonework was laid on either side of the little stream-bed to secure the stream bank and improve footing for hikers and runners. The last of the work crew left the woods after about four hours with the satisfaction of a job well done. Thanks again to: Cornell University, Nancy Ostman, and Jeff Randall at EMS for their support and cooperation. Top: Eric Mastroberti of Eastern Mountain Sports presents a donation to the Cayuga Trails Club National Trails Day Bridge Project. Left: Work crew surveys and starts preparation of bridge anchors. Right: A muddy and wet bridge building crew tests the bridge span while taking pride in a job well done. Photos by Sigrid Connors and Tom Reimers. More photos on page 10. - 3 - Special Earth Day Hike Report ♦ Date: April 23 2006 ♦ Location: The Cayuga Trail ♦ Leaders: Tom Reimers articipation in the annual Earth Day Hike on the Cayuga Trail is always unpredictable. More than 30 hikers and as few as three have participated in Ppast years. Weather is a very important factor affecting attendance. Only four hikers participated in the 15th annual Earth Day Hike held on April 23 this year. It was a cool (about 40 degrees), cloudy, and damp day. It rained before but not during the hike. Starting from Freese Road, the small group passed the high banks area along Fall Creek and then descended to the creek's edge before heading up a side gorge. Some early wildflowers including coltsfoot, hepatica, and cut- leafed toothwort were blooming. After crossing Fall Creek on the NY Route 13 bridge near Lower Creek Road in the Town of Dryden, the hike followed an abandoned railroad bed for a mile or so. Hikers then crossed Monkey Run Road south and eventually came to NY Route 366 in downtown Varna. A mile-long road walk along 366 and up Freese Road took hikers back to their cars. It was a great Spectacular vista of Fall Creek. hike on a beautiful trail! Thanks to the three hardy participants who joined me! Photo by Jim Connors Welcome New Members! by Suzanne Cohen Kathy McDonough Barbara Brown Marsha & Fred Kardon Susan Suarez & Wayne Anne-Lise Francois Will Planck Gottlieb Jane, Tom, Alexandra, and Janie Raven Sandy Bem Kate Johnson -4- Special May Hike Report ♦ Date: May 27, 2006 ♦ Location: The Abbott Loop Trail, Danby State Forest ♦ Leaders: Phil Dankert lthough Saturday began with rain, thirteen brave individuals (seven CTC members and six guests) came together to hike the Abbott Loop. The group pauses for a photo along the Abbott Loop Trail. A Photo by Marsha Zgola. Fortunately, shortly before the hike began the rain stopped and all we had to contend with was overcast skies and clouds. This meant that the view from Thatcher's Pinnacles was far less than spectacular however it was still a wonderful place to hike. It was at this point that two members of the group who had intended to shorten their hike said farewell. As a result of all the rain received earlier in the week the trail was quite muddy in places and on the steeper sections caution had to be exercised. Everyone arrived safely back at their cars by approximately 3:00pm. Trails Project July 8, 2006 (Saturday) ♦ Location: Texas Hollow ♦ Meeting Place: Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) parking lot, NYS Route 13, within sight of the Tops grocery store, Ithaca. Alternate: Steam Mill /Carly Road trailhead. ♦ Meeting Time: 9:30am at EMS, alternate 10:00am at the trailhead. ur next trail work project is a reroute in Texas Hollow. If you've hiked the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) in Texas Hollow State Forest, you likely remember the steep, stony climb out of the forest on the way up the hill to Newtown Rd. Although challenging, few would call it fun. We're going to make that section of trail more fun, and O th we'll avoid a nearby wet spot, by rerouting more than a mile of FLT in the state forest on July 8 . Assuming an adequate number of volunteers, we will divide the work among four subgroups. One group, led by Phil Dankert, will cut and clear the new route, removing dead-fall and cutting back brambles, briers, brush and branches with tools supplied by the club. A second group will install several water bars with lumber and tools supplied by the club. A third group will put up new signage at both trailheads and install a new trail register. A fourth group will paint new blazes on the reroute and black out the old blazes. The Trails Chairman is looking for volunteers to lead each sub-group. If you're planning to come, you can expect about four hours of work, not including travel time. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the trailhead from Ithaca. Bring plenty of water, a snack and lunch, sturdy hiking boots, and dress for mid summer weather. For more information, contact Gary Mallow at: [email protected]. Adopt A Highway Dates Save these dates! Meet at Cornell parking Lot “O” at the intersection of Rt.366 and Caldwell Road. ♦ June 27, 2006 (Tuesday) at 6:30pm ♦ August 29, 2006 (Tuesday) at 6:30pm ♦ October 21, 2006 (Saturday) at 10:00am Vito Brancato provides instructions to the eight Adopt-A-Highway workers during the April 29th clean up. Photo by Jim Connors. -5- Gorge, Ravine & Potomac Trails Finger Lakes Trail Walk, Look and Learn Hike #512 Walk, Look and Learn Hike #513 July 16, 2006 (Sunday) August 13, 2006 (Sunday) ♦ Location: Finger Lakes National Forest, Schuyler ♦ Location: Finger Lakes Trail Map M19, Owego Hill County Road North Trail Head to Purvis and Lake Road ♦ Meeting Place: Intersection, Cortland County Park-and-Ride in Mecklenburg, In- tersection of Routes 79 and 228. ♦ Meeting Place: Intersection of Purvis and Lake Rds. ♦ Meeting Time: 10:30am ♦ Meeting Time: 10am ome join hike leader Jack VanDerzee on hikes of the Gorge, Ravine and Potomac trails in New oin hike leader Sigrid Connors on this 6.7 mile hike C York States only National Forest. Total com- with excursions into Kennedy State Forest, past bined hiking distance will be eight miles. Bring plenty of both ends of the Spanish Loop Trail and views of water to drink, a lunch and appropriate hiking gear. J Dryden Lake. The views of the valleys will cost you Contact Jack if you have any questions at (607) 387- a little climbing but the reward will be worth it! Bring 5810, or [email protected]. plenty of water to drink, a lunch and appropriate hiking gear. If any questions, contact Sigrid at, (607) 898-4163 or [email protected]. Tom’s Private Nature Preserve Walk, Look and Learn Hike #514 September 10, 2006 (Sunday) ♦ Location: Town of Danby, Tompkins County ♦ Meeting Place: East Hill Plaza by Tompkins Trust Company ♦ Meeting Time: 1:00pm ong-time Cayuga Trails Club (CTC ) member Tom Reimers invites CTC members to spend an afternoon at his private 53-acre nature preserve in the Town of Danby. Tom has built 2½ miles of hiking trails in the woods. So, L since these are loop trails, you can hike 2½, 5, 7½, 10, or more miles through woods and abandoned fields. Refreshments will be served after the hike at Tom's rustic log cabin. We'll explore the human and natural history of this beautiful place isolated in the southern part of Tompkins County: stone and stump fences, wildflowers, trees, ferns, mushrooms, birds, and club mosses. There's much to see and enjoy. Contact Tom at [email protected] or (607) 272-8679 for more information. WALK….. LOOK….. LEARN….. -6- Special July Hike Special July Evening Hike July 15, 2006 (Saturday) July 18, 2006 (Tuesday) ♦ Location: Long Path, Schoharie County ♦ Location: Cayuga Waterfront Trail ♦ Meeting Place: Caroline School on Route 79 ♦ Meeting Place: Trail head by Cass Park skating rink ♦ Meeting Time: 8:00am ♦ Meeting Time: 6:30pm ike a scenic portion of the Long Path. We will ick Manning and Vikki Armstrong of the Cayuga drive east to Schoharie County, about 2 ½ hours Waterfront Trail will lead us on a walk through H from Ithaca, but the views are worth it! R local history along the trail. This part of Ithaca's Hike will begin at the Durfee Road Trailhead as we waterfront has been many things: a large marsh, a walk 5.3 miles dropping 1000 feet to the Village of center for shipping and manufacturing, a neighborhood, Middleburgh, climbing down the Middleburgh Cliffs a site for planes, trains and rail yards, and a place for re- where there is a spectacular view across the Schoharie creation and amusement. Today, you can meet Gaia, the River Valley towards Vroman’s Nose. We will travel giant snapping turtle sculpted specially for the Ithaca through the pretty village, hike 2.2 miles and then up Children's Garden. 800 feet to the peak of Vroman’s Nose for more Come see what else this exciting community project spectacular valley views of some of the best farmland in along the Cayuga waterfront has to offer today. For more the State. The valley was the “breadbasket of the Revol- information, call hike leader Carol Mallison at (607) ution” and the views are breathtaking on a good day. 564-3396 or email at [email protected]. You will definitely want to bring your camera and a hiking stick. Those not faint of heart can walk on a stone overhang that has held people for 100 years; it has Cayuga Trails is published six times a year and is to fall some day; will it be July 15? We’ll end at the edited and published by Jim Connors. Comments Vroman’s Nose Trailhead. and original contributions are welcome. Deadline for the early fall edition is August 15, 2006. Send to Bring lunch, plenty of water and clothes for the weather. If any are interested we can dine after the hike [email protected] or 102 Old Stage Road, Groton, NY 13073 at Brooks Barbeque in Oneonta. Hike coordinator: John NEW Cayuga Trails Club website: Andersson, (607)539-7096 or [email protected]. http://cayugatrailsclub.org Special August Evening Hike #1 August 8, 2006 (Tuesday) ♦ Location: Fillmore Glen State Park, Moravia, Cayuga County ♦ Meeting Place: Fillmore Glen Elementary School parking lot, Route 38 (Main Street) about half an hour from Ithaca ♦ Meeting Time: 6:00p.m. amela Henderson 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 Pfrom 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 hike. In fact, some of these falls are even more impressive than the lower falls. This loop hike is about 4 miles and includes several trails, some which can be fairly steep in parts. Dress for the weather and bring plenty of water. For more information contact Pamela at (315) 497-3533 or [email protected]. -7- Special August Evening Hike #2 August 22, 2006 (Tuesday) ♦ Location: Robert H. Treman State Park, Tompkins County ♦ Meeting Place: Upper Treman parking lot off Rt. 327 ♦ Meeting Time: 6:00pm njoy an evening hike along the spectacular upper Treman loop trail, passing by the magnificently carved natural creations and canyons, including the 115 foot Lucifer Falls. Easily one of the most impressive and inspiring trails, E whether it’s your first time or your 50th. For more information, call hike leader Carol Mallison at (607) 564-3396 or email [email protected]. Special August Hike August 27, 2006 (Sunday) ♦ Location: Satterly Hill and Tug Hollow Creek, Schuyler County ♦ Meeting Place: Enfield Elementary School, Rt.327, Enfield NY ♦ Meeting Time: 9:00am hris Proulx will lead a six to seven mile hike in Schuyler County that will include a variety of terrain that is typical of the region. The hike will begin just north of the Village of Burdett and after starting on private land, we will C spend about half of our time in the Finger Lakes National Forest, both on the Finger Lakes Trail and on some of the trails maintained by the National Forest. Highlights will include an old rail bed from the Lehigh Valley RR, views of Seneca Lake from atop Satterly Hill (1450 feet), crossing the relatively new bridge over Tug Hollow Creek that was built by the Cayuga Trails Club, abandoned vineyards, and a final descent through a small gorge in the Finger Lakes National Forest. Sturdy boots are recommended as we may cross a few wet areas and be sure to bring plenty of water. Contact Chris Proulx at (607) 279-2236 or [email protected]. Special September Evening Hike September 12, 2006 (Tuesday) ♦ Location: Sapsucker Woods, Tompkins County ♦ Meeting Place: Near front door of Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca ♦ Meeting Time: 6:00pm ring your bird books, binoculars, and bug spray for a gentle hike over wood-chipped walkways through Sapsucker Woods and waterways. We will see wildlife for sure, but how much and how wild is the adventure that awaits us. BCall hike leader Carol Mallison at (607) 564-3396 or email [email protected] for more information. Two Trail Sections Open for Adoption By Gary Mallow wo trail sections are now available for adoption. One is in a quiet and dark section of the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area. The second is in Caroline and some of it includes a part of the woods near some past logging Tthat is, incredibly, recovering nicely. If you are interested in stewarding a section of hiking trail, please contact Trails Chairman Gary Mallow at: [email protected]. Trail adopters agree to hike their section at least three times a year to keep it clear and blazed. Any heavy dead-fall will be handled by a certified sawyer. Tools, instruction and assistance are available from the Trails Chairman. -8- Add “Hike Leader” to Your Resume By Carol Mallison hat does it take to be a hike leader? Well, you should be an Outward Bound graduate, with EMT training, who has hiked at least five of New York State’s high peaks. Anyone interested? I didn’t think so. Fortunately, Wqualifications for being a hike leader are not quite this difficult. However, sometimes people equate this role with something like public speaking - a fate worse than death. Being a hike leader is really pretty simple. And fun. If you enjoy hiking with groups, or at least a few people, you’ve got what it takes. You also need to be familiar with the trail - one you’ve hiked many times, or that you’ve hiked a week or two in advance of the scheduled hike so you’re familiar with the trail and its most recent conditions. You’ll coordinate the date, location and time of the hike with the club’s hike organizers, and submit a brief written description of the hike explaining approximately how long it is in miles or time, and any special features people need to know or that could interest would be hikers (like the descriptions in this newsletter). The hike leader’s phone number and email is included in our publicity so people can ask questions. A hike leader arrives about 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time, makes sure everyone signs an attendance sheet, and reads our car pooling policy when appropriate. The leader may also explain a little about our club to newcomers, and make a plug for joining or for attending future club events. A well prepared hike leader, and hiker, will often carry many or all of the following supplies: watch, pen, trail map, water, snacks, minimal first aid kit, jackknife, Kleenex, flashlight, compass, whistle, and bug repellant. A cell phone can also be useful. If there is a good sized group, the hike leader may ask someone to act as “sweep” to bring up the rear of the group, making sure no one gets left behind or goes off in the wrong direction. People can take turns being sweep, and sometimes the leader and the sweep will trade places. On the hike, the leader should take a head count from time to time, and will decide when or where the group will stop for a break if one is needed. If you’re leading a hike for the first time, invite a friend to come along, for support or to help share the leader’s responsibilities. Most hikes will include other seasoned hikers who are glad to help the leader in any way that’s needed. Perhaps the most challenging task is carpooling. For first time hike leaders, choosing a loop hike can eliminate the need for carpooling. If the hike does involve carpooling, it helps to make sure each driver takes no more than one passenger to the first location (usually the end of the hike), so the group can be divided in half again to get to the second location (usually the beginning of the hike). When the hike is over, the leader writes a brief report, including the number of members and guests that hiked, and a description of what happened on the hike (again, just like those in this newsletter). You’d like to lead a hike in the year ahead, meet new people and introduce them to a trail you enjoy somewhere in Tompkins County or nearby? If so, contact Carol Mallison, (607) 564-3396, [email protected] or Chris Proulx (607) 279-2236, [email protected]. CTC 2006 Executive Board Co-presidents ……….... John Andersson, Phil Dankert Vice President ………… Jim Connors Secretary ……………… Chris Proulx Treasurer ……………… Jack VanDerzee Walk, Look & Learn Hikes …………… Carol Mallison, Chris Proulx Finance ………………... June Meyer Guide Book …………… Tom Reimers Membership …………... Suzanne Cohen Social ………………….. Marsha Zgola Trails ………………….. Gary Mallow Newsletter …………….. Jim Connors Archives/Historian ……. Barbara Morley Publicity ………………. Carol Mallison Adopt-A-Highway ……. Vito Brancato Members at Large……... Sigrid Connors, Vito Brancato -9- National Trails Day 2006 photos by Sigrid Connors -10- Brief Summary of the Executive Board Meeting . he Executive Board of the Cayuga Trails Club met for a regular meeting on Tuesday June 6, 2006, in the Old Jail House House conference room. Board members present were John Andersson, Suzanne Cohen, Jim Connors, T Sigrid Connors, Phil Dankert, Carol Mallison, Gary Mallow, June Meyer, Chris Proulx, Tom Reimers, Jack VanDerzee and Marsha Zgola. Co-president Phil Dankert called the meeting to order. Treasurer’s Report: Jack Vanderzee distributed the monthly revenue and expenses report. Possible format changes to the report were discussed. Walk Look and Learn Hikes: Chris and Carol provided an update on hikes and presented a revised hike calendar. Many folks have been volunteering to lead hikes. More details of the July and August hikes are needed and will be available in time for the newsletter. Finance: June met with Jack and performed an audit of the books. There were no reported findings. June plans to continue reviewing the books as needed. The board discussed the CTC’s CD’s and wondered if there were other avenues of investment. Decision was made to hold off further discussion on this until the Committee for Long Term Management of Resources provides a report. Guidebook: Tom presented a thorough and concise report from the Guide Book Committee outlining their recommendations for the tenth edition. Significant changes and improvements will be implemented. One improvement is the addition of highly detailed, color, contour lined maps that were created by use of a GPS. Another will be revising the text to reflect significant changes in the trail made since the ninth edition. The board approved the Guide Book Committee recommendations and thanked them for their hard work. The board will move ahead with a new Guide Book targeted for within this calendar year and perhaps as soon as summers’ end. Further discussion involved pricing of the new guide book. No decision was made however the executive board will collaborate before the next meeting so that a price target can be set and approved. The board agreed to halt further distribution of the ninth edition of the guidebook and discussed donating the obsolete inventory to non profit youth groups. Membership: Suzanne advised we have 163 memberships. Membership brochures will need to be revised and reprinted to reflect changes in Guide Book price and web site address change. Social: The social committee helped with refreshments for National Trails Day. The middle pavilion at Taughannock State Park has been reserved for the annual picnic. Time set at 6:15pm on Wednesday August 9th. Trails: Gary provided reports of the completed trails projects as well as upcoming projects. National Trails Day activities were very successful. Many reports included in this issue of Cayuga Trails provide details of these activities. Newsletter: The spring edition of Cayuga Trails was the first published by a new printer. Despite climbing the learning curve, the transition went well. Publicity: We are getting good coverage from local papers albeit there have been a couple of errors. The Ithaca Festival Parade was well attended by our membership, providing the CTC with great publicity. Highway cleanup: Next clean up will be on a weeknight. Tuesday, June 27 at 6:30pm. Other Business: The website update has been started by two Cornell students as a class project. The students agreed to “stay on” until the work is finished. The web pages need a systematic review to assure accuracy. New website address is http://cayugatrailsclub.org. The 2006 Cayuga Trails Club Executive Board. Photo by Marsha Zgola -11- Mark Your Calendar Saturday, July 8 ...... Trail Work Project. Texas Hollow Reroute. Meet at 9:30am in the Eastern Mountain Sports parking lot, NYS Route 13, within sight of the Tops grocery store, Ithaca. Or meet at 10:00am at Steam Mill /Carly Road trailhead. Gary Mallow, leader ([email protected]). Saturday, July 15 ...... Special Hike. Long Path. Details page 7. Meet at 8am at Caroline School. John Andersson, leader (607)539-7096 or ([email protected]). Sunday, July 16 ...... Walk, Look and Learn Hike # 512. Finger Lakes National Forest. Details on page 6. Meet at 10:30am at Park-and-Ride in Mecklenburg. Jack Vanderzee, leader (607) 387-5810 or ([email protected]). Tuesday, July 18 ...... Special Hike. Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Details page 7. Meet at 6:30pm at Trailhead near Cass Park skating rink. Leader Carol Mallison at (607) 564-3396 or ([email protected]). Tuesday, August 1 ...... Cayuga Trails Club Executive Board Meeting. Meet at 7:00pm at either Scott Heyman Conference Room, Old Jail, 125 East Court Street, Ithaca, or, second floor conference room Court House 320 North Tioga Street, Ithaca. Members welcome. Tuesday, August 8 ...... Special hike. Fillmore Glen State park. Details on page 7. Meet at 6:00pm at Fillmore Glen Elementary School parking lot, Route 38. Pamela Henderson, leader (315) 497-3533 or ([email protected]). Wednesday, August 9 … . . Cayuga Trails Club Annual Picnic. Details on page 2. Meet at 6:15pm at Taughannock State Park. Marsha Zgola, organizer (607) 546-7367 or ([email protected]). Sunday, August 13 ...... Walk, Look and Learn Hike # 513. Finger Lakes Trail. Details on page 6. Meet at 10am at the intersection of Purvis and Lake Roads. Sigrid Connors, leader (607) 898-4163 or ([email protected]). Tuesday, August 22 ...... Special hike. Robert Treman State Park. Details page 8. Meet at 6:00pm at Upper Treman parking lot off Rt. 327. Leader Carol Mallison at (607) 564-3396 or ([email protected]). Sunday, August 27 ...... Special Hike. Satterly Hill and Tug Hollow. Details on page 8. Meet at 9:00am at Enfield Elementary School, Rt.327. Chris Proulx, leader (607) 279-2236 or ([email protected]). Tuesday, August 29 ...... Adopt A Highway clean up. Meet at 6:30pm in Cornell Parking Lot “O” at the corner of NYS Route 366 and Caldwell Road. Leader Vito Brancato, leader (607) 272-8851 or ([email protected]). Sunday, September 10 . . . Walk, Look and Learn Hike # 514. Tom’s Private Nature Preserve. Details page 6. Meet at 1:00pm at East Hill Plaza by Tompkins Trust Company. Tom Reimers, leader (607) 272-8679 or ([email protected]). Tuesday, September 12 . . . Special Hike. Sapsucker Woods. Details page 8. Meet at 6:00pm near front door of Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Carol Mallison, leader (607) 564-3396 or ([email protected]). Cayuga Trails Club, Inc. P.O. Box 754 NON-PROFIT Ithaca, NY 14851-0754 ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROCHESTER, NY PERMIT NO. 51 CayugaCCCayugaayugaayuga TrailsT railsrailsrails Newsletter of the Cayuga Trails Club Founded in 1962 “to explore, enjoy and preserve wild lands and places of natural beauty…” September - October 2006 Early Fall Edition Volume 46, Nos. 9 & 10 New Guide to Hiking Trails Published By Tom Reimers he 10th edition of Guide to Hiking Trails of the Finger Lakes Region published by the Cayuga Trails Club is now available. The new edition of this popular trail guide describes almost 140 miles of the main Finger Lakes Trail T from Birdseye Hollow Road in Steuben County, New York, eastward to Tone Road near New York Route 392 in Cortland County. Also described are 70 miles of other hiking trails including the Queen Catharine Marsh Loop, the Montour Falls Historic Loop, the Interloken Trail, the Texas Hollow Loop, and the Van Lone Hill Loop in Schuyler County; the Bob Cameron Loop, the Buttermilk Falls Spur, the Abbott Loop, and the Cayuga Trail in Tompkins County; and the Spanish Loop, the Irvin Trail, the Dabes Diversion Loop, and the Virgil Mountain Loop in Cortland County. This Guide to Hiking Trails also briefly describes foot trails in nearby state parks, Arnot Forest, Cornell Plantations, Finger Lakes National Forest, nature preserves of the Finger Lakes Land Trust, and other places of interest in the Ithaca area. Included with the 171-page guide book are 10 color maps of the Finger Lakes Trail System and one color map of the Cayuga Trail. These contour maps are printed on water proof “Rite in the Rain” paper, and generated using global positioning system technology. The Guide to Hiking Trails can be purchased in local book and outdoor stores. Cayuga Trails Club members can buy it for a special membership price of $12.00 including all 11 maps or $6.00 including only the Cayuga Trail map (for those who have already purchased the new FLT maps). Copies for purchase by members will be available at future club events or members may contact Jack VanDerzee at (607)387-5810 or [email protected] to purchase (above price plus postage). Members of the CTC guide book committee who produced the new trail guide are Suzanne Cohen, Sigrid Connors, Joe Dabes, and Tom Reimers. All Members and Guests Invited! Cayuga Trails Club General Membership Meeting and Dish-to-Pass Supper Sunday October 22, 2006 by Marsha Zgola ll members invited! Prepare a dish-to-pass, bring a guest and your table service to the Tompkins County Health Department on Sunday, October 22nd at 4:30 p.m. for our General Membership Meeting. Coffee and soft drinks Awill be provided. You will provide a main dish, salad, vegetable, or dessert. The one business item we have to cover during the meeting is to elect the nominating committee that will select the slate of officers for 2007. Think about members you would like to see as officers next year and tell the nominating committee. After socializing, eating and electing the nominating committee, enjoy slides from member’s adventures. Feel free to bring up to ten slides of one of your adventures to share. From Ithaca head north on NY Route 96. Turn right at the light on Route 96 for the Cayuga Medical Center. Instead of continuing down into the hospital complex, take your first left turn on Harris B. Dates Drive. After about one-half mile look for signs for the health department (two story stucco building with dark red tile roof). Enter the main entrance on the circular driveway. If you have any questions, please call Marsha Zgola at (607)546-7367. Co-presidents Report By John Andersson all comes upon us this month, ready or not! With the earlier sunsets, lengthening shadows and ripe apples comes our Fall dish-to-pass. If you missed our picnic on August 9th you get another F chance to make new friends, meet old ones, and volunteer for a committee! Yahoo! Commit- tees are where all the action is. Hikes get leaders, events get organized, trails get re-routed and bridges built. Consider helping out and make sure to set aside the late afternoon of Sunday October 22 for passing that dish! (See related article on page 1 for location and specifics.) We have a Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC) Fall Campout weekend coming up real soon on September 29 - October 1, at Camp Amahami in Deposit, N.Y., hosted by our friends of the Triple Cities Hiking Club. You don’t need to be an FLTC member to participate in the hikes, meals, or enjoy the Camp. Check out the FLTC website for details. (www.fingerlakestrail.org) These FLTC weekends are a real deal for a great get-a-way and a chance to meet the folks who keep the FLT a continuous footpath across New York State! See you in October or before on the Trail! Welcome New Members! by Suzanne Cohen Joanne M. Church Joel and Susan Savishinsky Levana Taylor Ann Marie Kaminski Shufang Shi Hike Reports Walk Look and Learn Hike #511 ♦ Date: June 11, 2006 ♦ Location: Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, West Danby, Tompkins County ♦ Leader: Tom Reimers hirteen beginner and experienced birders joined Tom Reimers for a leisurely hike through the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve near West Danby, New York. The preserve consists of about 450 acres of forests, meadows, Tbrushland, streams, ponds, and other wetlands. The diverse habitats found in the preserve are home to a variety of flora and fauna. There are several marked trails at the preserve, which is owned and protected by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Trails on the property lead to old fields, forests, Lake Coleman, and a beaver pond. The preserve is adjacent to Danby State Forest and is the property you see directly below Thatcher's Pinnacles on the Abbott Loop. Hikers heard and/or saw 27 species of birds on this cloudy, cool day. Besides avian friends, the group also spent a fair amount of time looking through binoculars for river otters at Coleman Lake. None was seen there, but a green heron on the far side of the adjacent beaver pond was observed carefully searching for fish. A highlight of the walk was a brilliantly colored scarlet tanager, seen by everyone. Here's the complete bird list: eastern bluebird, prairie warbler, black-throated green warbler, ovenbird, common yellowthroat, American crow, willow flycatcher, great crested flycatcher, yellow warbler, chestnut- sided warbler, blue-winged warbler (?), song sparrow, northern cardinal, gray catbird, brown thrasher, red-winged blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, warbling vireo, red-eyed vireo, green heron, blue jay, eastern wood pewee, scarlet tanager, downy woodpecker, American redstart, indigo bunting, and Baltimore oriole. -2- Special June Hike Report ♦ Date: June 25, 2006 ♦ Location: Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture, Cortland ♦ Leader: Jim Connors mere 10,000 years ago Lime Hollow was underneath a one mile thick slab of ice. As the climate warmed the ice slab flowed to the A south acting like a huge bulldozer plowing dirt and leaving debris in its wake. Random mounds of debris called “kame” and ridges of debris called “moraines” intersected creating a nest, or bowl shape, that had the capacity to hold large chunks of ice that broke free from the flowing ice slab. As the captured ice chunk melted it created a glacial pond also known as a kettle hole pond. Fast forwarding to the present - the kettle hole pond is now known as Lime Hollow’s “Chicago Bog”, as ten hikers had the pleasure of exploring on an overcast but pleasant Sunday morning. The bog is about 50% covered with a floating vegetative growth and is self sustaining - meaning there is no water flowing into it. The water in the bog is acidic and low in oxygen. On the way to Chicago Bog we paused on occasion to search for birds that we heard singing to us. Many were identi- fied thanks to birders Mary Dreiling and Sigrid Connors. Our sighting list included common yellowthroat, red-eyed vireo, phoebe, cedar waxwing, northern junco, red-winged black bird, brown creeper, turkey vulture and a bluebird. Heard but not sighted was the scarlet tanager. We finished our hike with a stop at the Lime Hollow visitor center where we learned more about this wonderful place of nature. Special July Hike Report ♦ Date: July 15, 2006 ♦ Location: Long Path, Schoharie County ♦ Leader: John Andersson ight CTC members and one guest met at the Middleburgh Diner to arrange for the hike car shuttle. The non-shuttlers took off down E the tree lined trail from Durfee Road while two cars got posi- tioned at the Vroman’s Nose parking area. Jack VanDerzee had to make the hike a little longer by starting in the opposite direction, then turning around in time to catch the car shuttlers as they began the hike. The first five miles is through forest, so we got to see a myriad of fungi, red efts, and remains of wire and stump fences. The day was hot and muggy with rain on and off so haze obscured the views over the Schoharie Valley Nick Vandam and Luanne Andersson pose on the from the Middleburgh Cliffs a bit. Everyone had “fun” scrambling down Middleburgh Cliffs with, the end of the hike, Vroman’s Nose, in view across the Schoharie Valley. photo by John a cleft in the cliffs to get to the Village of Middleburgh. Two hikers Andersson decided that was far enough! By then the six leading hikers were well out of sight so I hiked quickly through the Village, over the Schoharie Creek and through the corn fields - reaching the base of Vroman’s Nose, then climbed up the steep trail to catch up with the others. One hiker, Steph, said she had to crawl, pulling herself up by the tree roots, but I think she was exaggerating. When I caught up with the others at the peak the rain turned harder, so we scurried to the waiting cars, completing about 7.9 miles. Most of us stopped at Brooks Barbecue in Oneonta for dinner on the way home, and the sun came out as we enjoyed our barbecue under the pavilion’s roof. As we drove along the N.Y. Route 88 detour near Sidney, we gawked at the mud line along the river and on people’s houses from the recent floods. The piles of flood wrecked furniture, mattresses, and building insulation were sobering as we realized how lucky we were to escape that disaster. -3- Report on Special Tuesday Evening Hike ♦ Date: July 18, 2006 ♦ Location: The Cayuga Waterfront Trail, Tompkins County ♦ Leader: Carol Mallison with special guest, Vikki Armstrong id you know there are bluebirds at Cass Park? On a day threatened by thunderstorms, it was instead a perfect summer evening for five members and four guests to enjoy a stroll along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. This D hike was sponsored by the History Center, the Cayuga Waterfront Trails Initiative, and the Cayuga Trails Club. Vikki Armstrong did a splendid job explaining the fascinating history of the area surrounding the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, including the railroad’s influence on the shape of Cass Park’s ball field, the birth of the Black Diamond Trail, the use of steamboats, and Cornell’s influence on the location of the flood control channel. In addition to being fed historical nuggets, walkers were treated to wildlife observations such as bluebirds flying through the willows and a blue heron preening itself in the treetops. As we walked, we shared the trail with an impressively diverse population of runners, people with dogs, senior citizens, families with children, bikers, roller bladers and others, all enjoying a magnificent evening by the waterfront. Walk Look and Learn Hike #513 ♦ Date: August 13, 2006 ♦ Location: Finger Lakes Trail Map M19, Owego Hill Road to Purvis/Lake Road Intersection, Cortland County ♦ Leader: Sigrid Connors he air was crisp and breezy lived up to its reputation. The woods and the blue sky was postcard were lush and cool and offered us a T perfect. This trek on M19 of continuous change of terrain and the Finger Lakes Trail lasted views both short and long. The well- only 2 hours and 53 minutes but still groomed trail and switchbacks took us managed to cover 6.7 miles of the up a steep incline to a panoramic view trail and 0.2 of the Field View Spur of Dryden Lake before heading down Trail. Five of us started the hike on a long decline to the Jim Shugg Trail Owego Hill Road in Cortland Coun- and our finish at Purvis Road in ty walking through a gorgeous sec- Tompkins County. A special treat on tion of the Kennedy State Forest. this hike was meeting trail stewards As we hiked down Daisy Hollow Alex and Michele Gonzalez and their Road one more hiker joined us after Caroline Spellman, John Skawski, Reyer Sjamaar, very contented trail dog and seeing the trail running to catch up with us, and Jim Connors and Lucy Barcelo enjoy a pause evidence of their hard work. I plan to during this WLL hike. Photo by Sigrid Connors then we were six. visit this trail again but next time I’ll This hike included the first FLT section to be bring my binoculars so that I can enjoy the many birds certified by the North Country Trail, which definitely on the trail. Cayuga Trails Club Picnic Report by Marsha Zgola n a spectacular, sunny August 9th Wednesday afternoon, 21 club members and guests met for a scrumptious picnic supper at Taughanouk Falls State Park. The buffet was varied and delicious; the mood was jovial and we were all Ohappy to see Peter Harriot ambulating so well on his newly acquired knee replacement. After the coals died down and with our bellies pleasantly "topped off", one group chose to stroll the shoreline while another headed up the Gorge Trail to view the falls. A perfectly lovely end to a summer evening. -4- Trails Report by Gary Mallow Trails Chairman Texas Hollow Trail Section Completed Next Group Trail Work Projects welve volunteers came out on a hot sunny July 8th September 16th and October 7th, 2006 (Saturdays) day to reroute more than a mile of the Finger ♦ Lakes Trail (FLT) in Texas Hollow State Forest. Location: Texas Hollow T ♦ Meeting Place: Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) We divided into four teams to complete the various chores needed to create the new section. One parking lot, NYS Route 13, within sight of the Tops group created a couple of water bars on the old section to grocery store, Ithaca. ♦ help improve drainage and limit erosion. One volunteer Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. worked on blazing. A group of two replaced the old trail here's nothing quite as satisfying as working in a register and installed new trail-heads and a small bridge group that expresses shared values. With that in that spans the drainage ditch on Newtown Road. The mind, mark these dates on your calendar for the majority of members spent late morning and early T next group trail work projects: Saturday, afternoon cutting the new route and clearing dead-fall. September 16th and Saturday, October 7th. The work to The new section circumvents a wet spot and a steep be done depends on what gets checked off on our “to- rocky incline. Most who have hiked the new section feel do” list between now and then. On the list as we went to it's an improvement, even though in changing the route press are: repairs to the Rogers Hill Lean-to roof, the we lose a section of trail which was part of “Ed's Ultra”, Shindagin Hollow outhouse, some trail-head work, and an ultra-marathon organized by club member Ed Hart, installation of cables on bridges. If we are caught up, we which has special significance for those who ran it. will pick a section that has been neglected for awhile and Puncheon Bridging Improved do general trail maintenance. The choice of project will be made about a week beforehand. For details contact he puncheon bridging near Shindagin Hollow Gary Mallow at: [email protected]. Road bothered trail steward Phil Dankert. What was there was helpful in getting over the springs Special Thanks T and the muck, it didn't get you past all of it. So pecial thanks go to Trail Adopter John even though you walked on bridging, you still ended up Chamberlain for doing one of those disagreeable sinking up to you ankles during wet parts of the year. but necessary tasks that nobody looks forward to. Phil decided to do something about it. He enlisted S It seems every year we come across an unofficial another volunteer to extend the bridging by digging out dump that some thoughtless person has created. the areas needed for support and screwing in the new Although these are rarely directly on the FLT, trail-heads pieces of bridging. Materials were purchased through the are convenient spots because they often have parking Cayuga Trails Club's trail maintenance budget. Thanks areas to put a vehicle while doing the nasty deed. That Phil for improving your section of trail. was the case for the Boyland Road trail-head in Connecticut Hill this summer, maintained by Barb Trail Sections Available for Adoption Morley and John. John took it upon himself to load the s this newsletter went to press, we had two household trash and other debris into his vehicle and sections open for trail adoption: one in Danby take it to the Tompkins County Solid Waste center. and one in Caroline. If you are interested in Thanks John for going the extra mile for us. A Although most hikers will never know the service you helping to maintain part of our 90 or so miles of Finger Lakes Trail for other hikers, campers, runners and provided to them, we like to recognize you for a job well skiers to enjoy, contact Trails Chairman Gary Mallow at: done. [email protected]. Adopt A Highway Trail adopters agree to check their sections at least three times a year, clearing dead-fall, cutting back briers, Save the date! Meet on October 21, 2006, Saturday at brambles, branches, and brush; they also keep their Cornell parking Lot “O” at the intersection of Rt.366 and sections blazed. Extra help for large dead-fall and other Caldwell Road. problems is available from the Trails Chairman and trained sawyers. -5- Tom’s Private Nature Preserve, Walk, Look and Learn Hike #514 September 10, 2006 (Sunday) ♦ Location: Town of Danby, Tompkins County ♦ Meeting Place: East Hill Plaza by Tompkins Trust Company ♦ Meeting Time: 1:00 p.m. ong-time Cayuga Trails Club (CTC) member Tom Reimers invites CTC members to spend an afternoon at his private 53-acre nature preserve in the Town of Danby. Tom has built 2½ miles of hiking trails in the woods. So, L since these are loop trails, you can hike 2½, 5, 7½, 10, or more miles through woods and abandoned fields. Refreshments will be served after the hike at Tom's rustic log cabin. We'll explore the human and natural history of this beautiful place isolated in the southern part of Tompkins County: stone and stump fences, wildflowers, trees, ferns, mushrooms, birds, and club mosses. There's much to see and enjoy. Contact Tom at (607) 272-8679 or [email protected] for more information. Autumn Hike Walk, Look and Learn Hike #515 October 28, 2006 (Saturday) ♦ Location: Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) and a portion of Abbott Loop Trail ♦ Meeting Place: Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca (alternately at crossing of Abbott Loop with Michigan Hollow Rd) ♦ Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. or about 9:50 a.m. at alternate location ome join this Autumn hike of 6.6 miles. We will drop off cars as needed on Michigan Hollow Road, then car shuttle to Rt. 96B at Durfee Road to start the hike. After the first quite steep half mile we can pause at Tamarack C Lean-to and look at the nearby spring which may be flowing again. From the lean-to we hike up and down, about four miles, through planted red pine forests and mixed woods, past the old South Danby church, to the junction of the FLT with the Abbott Loop at an abandoned beaver pond. We follow the Abbott Loop along a pretty stream bed, and after a final short climb descend to Michigan Hollow Road. Edith Cassel, leader (607)273-1708 or [email protected]. Special October Hike October 15, 2006 (Sunday) ♦ Location: Arnot Forest ♦ Meeting Place: Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell fields, saplings, brush, and pole timber, 170 acres of across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca softwood plantations, 40 acres of sugarbush, 20 acres of ♦ Meeting Time: 1:00 p.m. field campus, 10 ponds, and Banfield creek. More than 400 species of vascular plants and 135 species of birds, arbara Nussbaum will lead this fall hike in the in addition to numerous amphibians, reptiles, and beautiful Arnot Teaching and Research Forest. mammals, inhabit the Arnot. Approximately 100 B “The Arnot” is located in the hilly, forested contiguous acres of grassland are maintained to provide Southern Tier region of New York State. It is habitats for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. owned by Cornell University and managed by the There are no hiking trails in the Arnot. However, old Department of Natural Resources in the College of used and unused roads are great for hiking. They pass by Agriculture and Life Sciences. It is the largest actively one of the best autumn views in the area. For more managed forest owned by Cornell. In addition to 2,400 information contact Barbara at (607)257-6906, acres of mature forest, the Arnot includes 100 acres of [email protected]. open land (grass and goldenrod), 1,345 acres of old -6- Special November Hike November 4, 2006 (Saturday) ♦ Location: Pony Hollow, South of Newfield near Alpine Junction, Tompkins County ♦ Meeting Place: Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca ♦ Meeting Time: 9:00 a.m. on Wilson and Ed Hart have enjoyed leading hikes through geologically fascinating terrain on the Ithaca side of Alpine Junction. Previous hikes were led starting at Gulf Road and County Rt. 6 and going through an intriguing D gorge sequence associated with the outlet to Cayuta Lake and over the two foot bridges on the main Finger Lakes Trail. The last gorge is called Hendershot or the Lost Gorge. The hike on November 4th begins on the opposite side of Pony Hollow from a wide parking area on Rt. 13. The trail soon connects with a series of old logging roads along a beautiful gorge or gulf extending in a mostly easterly direc- tion and ending at Irish Hill Road next to the large metal gate in the Arnot Forest. Pony Hollow Creek crosses the Pony Hollow flood plain about four miles south of Newfield. Expect difficult conditions, gradual climbing, occasional mud or tree downfall. You'll be rewarded by a beautiful wild trail rarely used over the past 50 years or more. This rigorous hike is not for novices. Bring sturdy boots and a hiking stick, water, and trail lunch. Total distance will be about four miles. Total elevation about 400 feet. Plan an out and back hike since auto access of Arnot Forest is formidable. We will continue to scout and GPS the trail before the hike and announce significant changes by e-mail alerts. Contact Don at (607)387-7500, [email protected] or Ed at (607)272-2943, [email protected] if you have any questions. Summary of the Executive Board Meeting The Executive Board of the Cayuga Trails Club met on Tuesday August 1, 2006, in the Old Jail House conference room. Treasurer’s Report: Jack distributed the current account balances and year-to-date budget. Co-presidents Report: Phil wrote a thank you letter to Eastern Mountain Sports for National Trails Day and to the Executive Director of Tompkins County Cooperative Extension to support their healthy children’s initiative. John sent a letter to the Tompkins County planning department with regards to the scenic views inventory. WLL Report: See page 6. Finance Report: June requested copies of the by-laws and the certificate of incorporation. Guidebook: Sigrid presented the committee chair report for Tom which provided a progress report on the10th edition which is nearly complete. The report outlined the costs of the guidebook. Discussion then followed. Wholesale and retail prices were established. Social Report: The fall potluck and meeting will be October 22 at 4:30 p.m. Sigrid will arrange the health department location as the backup and Marsha will be requested to find a primary location. Trails Report: Gary provided a written report that highlighted the work done by volunteers. See page 5. Jonathan Bernstein has helped with the chain saw and Tom Reimers completed some maintenance in Treman State Park. Publicity Report: Carol will work on sending press releases to all media between Hammondsport and Cortland to announce the new guidebook. Website update: Suzanne will email board members with access to the administrative section of the web site. Next meeting: October 3. Cayuga Trails is published six times a year and is edited and published by Jim Connors. Comments and original contributions are welcome. Deadline for the fall edition is October 15, 2006. Send to [email protected] or 102 Old Stage Road, Groton, NY 13073 NEW Cayuga Trails Club website: http://cayugatrailsclub.org -7- Mark Your Calendar Sunday, September 10 . . . Walk, Look and Learn Hike # 514. Tom’s Private Nature Preserve. Details page 6. Meet at 1:00 p.m. at East Hill Plaza by Tompkins Trust Company. Tom Reimers, leader (607) 272-8679 or [email protected]. Tuesday, September 12 . . . Special Hike. Sapsucker Woods. Details in the Summer newsletter. Meet at 6:00 p.m. near front door of Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Carol Mallison, leader (607) 564-3396 or [email protected]. Saturday, September 16 . . . Trail Work Project. Details page 5. Meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Eastern Mountain Sports parking lot, NYS Route 13, within sight of the Tops grocery store, Ithaca. Gary Mallow, leader [email protected]. Sept 29 to October 1...... Finger Lakes Trail Conference Fall meeting at Camp Amahami, Deposit, N.Y.. Details see FLTC website: www.fingerlakestrail.org. Tuesday, October 3 ...... Cayuga Trails Club Executive Board Meeting. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at either Scott Heyman Conference Room, Old Jail, 125 East Court Street, Ithaca, or, second floor conference room Court House 320 North Tioga Street, Ithaca. Members welcome. Saturday, October 7 ...... Trail Work Project. Details page 5. Meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Eastern Mountain Sports parking lot, NYS Route 13, within sight of the Tops grocery store, Ithaca. Gary Mallow, leader [email protected]. Sunday, October 15 . . . . . Special Hike. Arnot Forest. Details page 6. Meet at 1:00 p.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Barbara Nussbaum, leader (607)257- 6906 or [email protected]. Saturday, October 21 . . . . . Adopt A Highway clean up. Meet at 10:00 a.m. in Cornell Parking Lot “O” at the corner of NYS Route 366 and Caldwell Road. Vito Brancato, leader (607) 272-8851 or [email protected]. Sunday, October 22 ...... Cayuga Trails Club General Membership Meeting and Dish-to-Pass Supper. Details page 1. Meet at 4:30 p.m. at the Tompkins County Health Department. Saturday, October 28 . . . . Walk, Look and Learn Hike # 515. Finger Lakes Trail and portion of the Abbott Loop. Details page 6. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K- Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Edith Cassel, leader (607)273-1708 or [email protected]. Saturday, November 4 . . . Special Hike. Pony Hollow. Details page 7. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Co-leaders: Don Wilson (607)387-7500, [email protected] or Ed Hart (607)272-2943, [email protected]. Saturday, November 11 . . . Special hike. The Interloken Trail, Finger Lakes National Forest. Details in next newsletter. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at parking area at south end of Interloken Trail off Burnt Hill Rd, north of Bennettsburg and south of Wyckoff Rd. Co-leaders: Jennifer Wilson (607)753-8641, [email protected] and Marsha Zgola (607)546-7367, [email protected]. Cayuga Trails Club, Inc. P.O. Box 754 NON-PROFIT Ithaca, NY 14851-0754 ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROCHESTER, NY PERMIT NO. 51 CayugaCCCayugaayugaayuga TrailsT railsrailsrails Newsletter of the Cayuga Trails Club Founded in 1962 “to explore, enjoy and preserve wild lands and places of natural beauty…” November - December 2006 Late Fall Edition Volume 46, Nos. 11 & 12 New Guide to Hiking Trails is Available By Jim Connors group of volunteers met at Sigrid and Jim Con- Cayuga Trails Club members can purchase the nors’ home for a “packaging” party to prepare Guide Book with all 11 maps at a special membership A the 10th edition of the Guide to Hiking Trails of price of $12, or, the Guide Book including only the the Finger Lakes Region. This popular Guide Cayuga Trail map for $6. The only way to get the Book features 171 pages of updated member discount price is to pur- trail descriptions and 11 color, chase the Guide Book from a CTC contour trail maps printed on all- Executive Board member. See list weather paper. These impresssive on last page of this newslet- maps generated by G.P.S. tech- ter. Guide Books are also available nology will not fade in the rain or at the following outlets: Autumn fall apart in a wet pocket or back Leaves Used Books, Baden-Powell pack. Council, BSA (Binghamton), The crew of 12 adults and one Bookery II, Cornell Outdoor Edu- child put in a few hours work which cation, Cornell Store, Eastern resulted in 500 guide books being Mountain Sports, Eureka Camping fully prepared for distribution. Sales Center, Finger Lakes Running of the Guide to Hiking Trails of the Company, Finger Lakes Trail Con- Finger Lakes Region is the primary ference, Ludgate Produce Store, revenue generator for the Cayuga Outdoor Store and Watkins Sport- Trails Club (CTC). This revenue al- ing Goods (Watkins Glen). Please lows the executive board to keep note that you will pay more at these membership costs low, subsidize outlets even if you are a CTC mem- publishing of the newsletter, main- ber. tain trails the CTC is responsible for, The CTC executive board is and subsidize the costs for the An- proud of the 10th edition of the nual Meeting. Purchasing a guide book for yourself or as Guide book and is grateful for the efforts of Guide Book gifts not only provides you with a wonderful resource, it committee Suzanne Cohen, Sigrid Connors, Joe Dabes, also helps the CTC in it’s mission to “explore, enjoy and and committee chair Tom Reimers. preserve wild lands and places of natural beauty…”. Big Game Hunting Season Dates. Note the Finger Lakes Region falls in the Southern Zone. Northern Zone: Archery, September 27 – October 20th. Gun, October 21st – December 3rd. Southern Zone: Archery, October 14 – November 17. Gun, November 18 – December 10th, Muzzleloading, December 11 – 19th. Check the Finger Lakes Trail maps for trail closings requested by the trail land owners during hunting seasons. For more information, updates and map of the hunting zones see: www.dec.state.ny.us Co-presidents Report By Phil Dankert he last several weeks have been busy ones. On September 27, Tom Reimers, Gary Mallow and I, along with David Marsh, President of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC), and T representatives of the Department of Environmental Conservation, Tompkins County Planning Department, the State Parks Service, and the Finger Lakes National Forest attended a meeting organized by the Finger Lakes Land Trust and chaired by Andy Zepp. One of the main purposes of this meeting was to discuss protection and enhancement of the 96 miles of Finger Lake Trail within the proposed "Emerald Necklace." This is the first of a series that will take place over the next 18 months. The FLTC Fall Campout was held at Camp Amahami September 29th to October 1st. It was a highly successful affair, organized by the Triple Cities Hiking Club. The food was good, and certainly plentiful, and the Saturday night presentation by Warren "Traildawg" Johnsen, capably assisted by Jacqui Wensich, on "Fire Towers I Wish I Knew" was most enlightening. The only downside was the weather. The real highlight of the weekend, however, was that two of our members, Joan Jedele (1st time) and Jack VanDerzee (2nd time) became end-to-enders on a hike that I had the pleasure of participating in on Saturday. The CTC was well represented at this affair. It is with mixed emotions that I write this report, my final one as Co-President of the Cayuga Trails Club. After four years in this position, in addition to serving on the executive board in various capacities including Vice-President and Member-at-Large I firmly believe it is time to step down. These past years have been very happy ones and have left me with many wonderful memories. To my fellow members on the executive board I can only say that I am very proud to have served with such a dedicated group of individuals. Your willingness to go that extra mile has made my job easier. Before you get your hopes up, however, I will simply add that I have no intention of disappearing. In closing I have one final plea. As I have said many times before we are, as a group, only as good as what we as individuals put into it. I have seen positive aspects of this while once again hiking the FLT in Tompkins County. Nick Vandam and I started our quest last summer and finished in September of 2006. We found very little to quibble about as far as the condition of "our" section of the trail is concerned. This can only enhance the reputation of Cayuga Trails Club. See you on the trails! Welcome New Members! by Suzanne Cohen Lynn Andersen Jim Landis Jessica Orkin Nevin Sabet and Bryan Swingle Sylvia Bailey Sean Mann Donna Palomaki Megan Tifft Kathie DeWolfe Amber Menteer LeBron Rankins Brian Weis Melissa Moore Helene and Victor Dillard Paul Rumsey Marina Welker Carol Glidden Joyce Noonan -2- Special August Hike Reports ♦ Date: August 22, 2006 ♦ Date: August 27, 2006 ♦ Location: Upper Treman State Park ♦ Location: Finger Lakes National Forest ♦ Leader: Carol Mallison ♦ Leader: Chris Proulx n an evening when the temperature hit 89°, he day broke cloudy with the threat of rain but that ten members and four guests enjoyed a hike did not stop four Cayuga Trails Club (CTC) mem- O around the upper loop of Robert H. Treman Tbers, one guest, and one dog from setting out on a State Park. This was my first hike in Tomp- seven mile hike through the hills and hollows of kins County and 24 years later, it never fails to Schuyler County. Just as we arrived at the trailhead for impress me. The power of water rushing along the the Finger Lakes trail, the rain started, but still, we were trail’s upper stairways is illustrated by escape holes committed. By the time we reached the old vineyard at added at strategic points where previously the water the top of Slattery Hill, it was officially downpour con- busted through the stone walls. The summer’s ditions. Through the low clouds and fog, we enjoyed reliable rainfall contributed to the beauty of the muted views of the west bank of Seneca Lake. After plentiful flumes, cascades and waterfalls found at crossing into the National Forest, new growth of berry every turn. Many deep pools and rocky ledges cut bushes and young pines mixed with old grape vines to dramatically into the Enfield Creek bed inspired make for interesting walking on a breezy and damp thoughts of a refreshing evening swim, which is not hilltop. We crossed the new CTC bridge in Tug Hollow allowed. The lush, fern and flower covered canyon where the creek was gentle despite the rain. By the time walls surrounding the 115 foot high Lucifer Falls we reached the Interloken Trail in the National Forest, a always make me think of when dinosaurs roamed the steady stream of water was rolling down the trail and earth. Impressive views of the Enfield valley were through our soggy boots and socks! The rain did not stop gained by climbing 221 stairs on our return trip. By some in the group from spotting birds, toads, and the end of the hike, we had three new members! mushrooms along the trail. We finished by walking down the Gorge Trail passing several small campsites and reaching our ending point with little if any dry clothes but the satisfaction at having enjoyed a hike through beautiful and varied terrain that make this region so special. Black Diamond Trail By Carol Mallison re you interested in the completion of the Black Diamond Trail? This ten foot wide greenway and transportation corridor will eventually connect Robert H. Treman, Buttermilk Falls, Allan H. Treman, and Taughannock Falls A State Parks. Recently, a group of about 80 people was formed, called the Black Diamond Trail Enthusiasts Network or “BDTEN”. They are working with the New York State Parks staff towards the completion of the trail. If you would like more information or want to get involved, contact Jan Zeserson at [email protected] or Vikki Armstrong at [email protected]. Favorite Trail Contest By John Andersson ornell Cooperative Extension, the Ithaca Journal and the Light in Winter Festival will sponsor a “Favorite Trail or Walk” contest to begin in November. Individuals can submit entries in one of five categories: Children’s, C Beginner’s, Senior’s, Scenic Trail, and Challenging Trail. Submissions may include trails for walking, hiking, snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing. There will be prizes donated by local merchants, articles in the Ithaca Journal featuring trails and resources for outdoor fitness activities, and a website featuring trail maps and educational resources on how to stay active in winter. Winners will be announced in January in conjunction with the main Light in Winter Festival. For details on how to enter see: www.ccetompkins.org in early November or call Cooperative Extension at (607)272-2292. If you submit an entry, please email or call John Andersson, Cayuga Trail Club’s Co-President at [email protected] or (607)539-7096. -3- Report on Special Tuesday Evening Hikes ♦ Date: August 8, 2006 ♦ Date: September 12, 2006 ♦ Location: Fillmore Glen State Park ♦ Location: Sapsucker Woods ♦ Leader: Pam Hendersen ♦ Leader: Carol Mallison hey came by car, motorcycle, and bicycle…all n a cool overcast evening, eight adventurous souls fourteen of the hikers! It was a gorgeous evening prepared to get lost on the trails in Sapsucker for a hike with temperatures in the low 70’s and O Woods. However, the trail map brochure, along T with abundant map stations throughout the bird not a cloud in the sky. The hike started on a trail past several very large old sycamore trees just outside sanctuary, made it easy to calculate where we were and the park's camping area. Much of the hike followed Dry where we wanted to go next on this rather spontaneous Creek and began with an invigorating climb up the stairs journey. Hikers beware! Ample poison ivy crept its’ way to the Gorge Trail. This trail zigzagged its way over along the trail, up tree trunks, and was seen hanging over several bridges along the creek path for about two miles. the trail itself. Constantly on lookout for wildlife, we With the abundance of rain earlier in the week, the many saw ducks, several birds we could not positively identify, waterfalls cascading over the sides of the gorge were and a deer running through the trees. The changing of even more impressive. The hikers next climbed up a the seasons was brightly illustrated with fall colors short but steep trail to the top of the South Rim and occasionally accenting our view. Returning to Cornell’s followed that trail over the old, narrow dam. There they Lab of Ornithology, the sky began to fill with large, loud picked up the North Rim Trail which eventually led back groups of honking Canadian geese coming in for the down the gorge. The last leg of the hike went through a night and making impressive splash landings as they very old cemetery hidden in the corner of the Glen. skidded onto the pond. One group after another an- Thanks to all that came and enjoyed the "gorges" nounced its arrival. It seemed hundreds were landing on summer evening at Fillmore Glen State Park. the pond or nearby. In quiet contrast, one small bat fluttered in circles as it cleaned the evening sky of bugs. Walk Look and Learn Hike Report #514 ♦ Date: September 10, 2006 ♦ Location: Town of Danby, Tompkins County ♦ Leader: Tom Reimers n a pleasantly cool day in September, Tom Reimers wel- comed 28 Cayuga Trails Club members to his private nature O preserve and log cabin in the Town of Danby, Tompkins County. Once everyone made it up the rocky driveway to the cabin, Tom described his acquisition of the property in 1997. The one-room rustic cabin was built in 1999. Tom explained that he had granted a conservation easement on the property to the Finger Lakes Land Trust. This easement will protect the land with fields, woods, and streams from development forever because the restrictions on Hikers meet at Tom’s Log Cabin. photo by Marsha Zgola use of the property go with the deed. The visitors then went on a 1.5- mile-long hike on trails Tom had cleared in the fields and woods. Along the way, he pointed out the stump and stone fences, interesting wildflowers and ferns, the four-trunked basswood tree, the stilted yellow birches, the cucumber tree, the tree-root "condominium" for winter wrens, signs of black bear activity, and other interesting features on the property. A surprise bonus was having Mike DeMunn on the hike. Mike is a professional forester and forestry consultant for the Finger Lakes Land Trust. He described diseases apparent in some of Tom's trees and identified a tree species that Tom didn't know he had in his woods: black maple. After the hike, Tom brought out a cooler loaded with bottled water and beer. Tom said it was a real treat having club members visit his getaway property. Visitors thanked him for the invitation and agreed that it was a wonderful place. -4- Special October Hike Report ♦ Date: October 15, 2006 ♦ Location: Arnot Forest ♦ Leader: Barbara Nussbaum ourteen Cayuga Trails Club members, nine guests and a dog joined first time hike leader Barbara Nussbaum for a F 4.5 miles long hike in Arnot Forest on a beautiful partly sunny and cool day. Perfect weather for a hike! After pooling cars in Ithaca and again at the south entrance to Arnot Forest the hike started at 2 p.m. on Irish Hill Road at the north entrance to the forest, which is owned by Cornell University and managed by the Department of Natural Resources. There are no hiking trails in the forest, but the currently used and abandoned roads which lead through several open places offer great opportunities for hiking. We stopped at an old graveyard along the road, for a Beautiful spot in the Arnot Forest. Photo by an unknown passerby. beautiful view of the hills with fantastic fall colors and on a pond with a great photo opportunity. All hikers were back at the south gate at 3:40 p.m.. Four hikers and a dog decided to use the perfect day to hike back - this time mostly uphill - to the north entrance again, where they arrived at 5:30 p.m.. Upcoming November Hike November 11, 2006 (Saturday) ♦ Location: The Interloken Trail, Finger Lakes National Forest, Schuyler and Seneca counties ♦ Meeting Place: U.S. Forest Service parking area at south end of the Interloken Trail off Burnt Hill Road, north of Bennettsburg and south of Wyckoff Road. Note alternate location and time in the article. ♦ Meeting Time: 10:00 a.m. lub members Jennifer Wilson and Marsha Zgola will lead a special hike along the Interloken Trail in Finger Lakes National Forest. This approximately 12-mile-long hike will feature dense forests, open meadows, and rolling C farmland and pass by several ponds, campsites, and a lean-to. The trail is an official spur of the 800-mile-long Finger Lakes Trail System and also encompasses a short segment of the multi-state North Country National Scenic Trail. The terrain is easy and will be hiked in a slightly downward direction. Given the time of year and the miles hiked, this outing will not be for the faint-hearted, however. We will proceed somewhat briskly with few and short breaks. Please dress for the time of year. Layering of warm but breathable garments and a daypack with raingear are advisable. Bring sufficient drinking water and a sandwich or high- energy snacks. We will leave most cars at the trail's southern end and shuttle together to begin at the north end on Parmenter Road. For those who are unsure about finding the trail head or who want to carpool, meet Jennifer at 9:20 a.m. at the Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across New York Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza. For more information contact Jennifer at (607)753-8641, [email protected] or Marsha at (607)546-7367, [email protected]. Hold the Date! The Annual Meeting and Luncheon of the Cayuga Trails Club will be held on January 28, 2007. Planning is in process to reserve the Ramada Inn at 2310 North Triphammer Road, Ithaca. Look for a mailing with details in December. -5- Trail Work Project Reports by Gary Mallow Trails Chairman n August 18th, five volunteers hiked to the well that serves the Tamarack Lean-to in Danby to identify a problem and solve it. The problem was no water in the reservoir, apparently the result of the underground aquifer shifting O course slightly away from our well. The solution was a newly dug location about 20 feet away, where water appears to be plentiful, and not too deep below ground level. That's a good thing, as the hard-pan there begins about 16 inches below ground level. Thanks to volunteers Dave Burnett, Edith Cassell, Joe McMahon, and Tom Reimers for not minding getting a little muddy performing a service for the hikers and campers who depend on the well for water. On September 16th, five volunteers hiked up to the Shindagin Lean-to to address what we all expected to be a rather unpleasant problem which has plagued the outhouse there since the new one was installed in 2004: too much ground water in the pit. The ground there is pretty impervious, and with the record rainfall we've had this year, the pit had at least 18 inches of water in addition to the organic material in it. What to do? The crew dug a drainage ditch from the outhouse downhill about 20 feet and filled it with rock. Then it was covered with dry organic material (leaves and needles) to serve as a sort of sponge for the water. The whole assembly was kept in place with logs left over from the lean-to construction. At last report, this jury-rigged solution is keeping the splashing to a minimum. Thanks to volunteers Roger Hopkins and Phil Dankert, and Cornell student volunteers James Teague and Amanda Solliday. On October 5th, a Thursday, no fewer than 10 volunteers came out on a beautiful autumn day to work on the proliferating multiflora roses on a section of trail in Caroline. To our surprise, a mystery trail worker (who remains unknown at this writing) got there just ahead of us, maybe one or two days earlier. Part of the section had been brush hogged, and the roses had been sufficiently cut back so that we had three alternatives: go for beer at the 76 Club in Caroline, work on an adjoining section, or take a hike. Half of the group decided it was too nice a day to pass up a hike, and five continued to the adjoining section where they trimmed back brush and pruned some branches, along with maintaining a pretty much constant conversation until 2 p.m.. A good time was had by all. Welcome Aboard number of new and returning trail adopters are now actively maintaining parts of our 90 miles of Finger Lakes Trail. Please welcome aboard Vito and Ben Brancato, who now maintain the section in Schuyler County from the A the southern boundary of the Finger Lakes National Forest at Burnt Hill Rd. to Texas Hollow Rd. Welcome also to Patrick McMahon and friends from the Baha'i community, who are working on the Connecticut Hill section from Connecticut Hill Rd. to Cayutaville Rd. Patrick's group has already done a group work project on the section. Returning for another stint as an adopter on a new section is Eric Mastroberti, who you may know from Eastern Mountain Sports. Eric now maintains the Treman Park section from Routes 13/34/96 to Woodard Rd. Moving to a new section are Joan Jedele and Jack Rueckheim. Joan and Jack now maintain a section in the town of Caroline from Blackman Hill Rd. to Rt. 79. Joan and Jack were responsible for a section of the Abbott Loop for many years. One Open Section Available for Adoption hat leaves just one open section of trail for adoption, and it's a sweet one: the Abbott Loop from Michigan Hollow Rd. (south) to the junction with the main Finger Lakes Trail. Trail adopters agree to work on their sections at least T3 times each year. Tools, instruction, and support are available from the Trails Chairman. If you would like to adopt this section, contact Gary Mallow at: [email protected]. Trail Maintenance Reports Due By December 31, 2006 f you're a trail adopter, please remember that the deadline for reporting your hours spent on trail maintenance is coming up at the end of the year. The hours spent working and traveling to and from your section get aggregated in a I series of reports that go to the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and onward to funding sources from there. The hours we spend can really add up, and they help get us funding for valuable improvements to our trail like: lean-to's, bridges, picnic tables and other trail improvements, so please be prompt with your report this year. You may report your hours by way of the new form on the new Cayuga Trails Club website, by email to Trails Chairman: [email protected], by phone at: (607) 564-7938, or by mail at: 79 Bank St., Newfield, N.Y. 14867. -6- Hiking Across the State with my Best Friend by Jack VanDerzee fter completing the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) in November of 1997 I had no plans to do it again. The following spring I decided to lead a series of hikes across Tompkins County. At the time I did not realize it would be the Abeginning of my second trek across the state. Among the people who came out for this series of hikes was Joan Jedele who had learned about them from Rebecca Elgie while skiing in Kennedy State Forest the previous winter. When Joan started hiking with me she had no plans to complete the trail. The following year we hiked Cortland County followed by Chenango, Steuben and Schuyler Counties. Each year Joan showed up and we became good friends. After finishing Schuyler County Joan told me that she wanted to hike the whole trail. I decided to do it with her. By this time the remaining trail was a little too far away to do day hikes so we decided to do weekend hikes. Two or three weekends a summer we would go out and hike for 2 or 3 days, camping the nights in between the hikes. Sometimes we would do it in conjunction with the FLT Conference weekends but then we usually did our own hikes instead of a scheduled one. Usually it was just the two of us hiking together. We had several interesting experiences while hiking or getting to the hikes. The two most interesting were: 1. One weekend in September 2004 we were going to hike the eastern portion of the trail. It had rained heavily the night before. We got to Delaware County and found the roads were closed due to flooding. What do we do? Joan had her maps. The nearest section of trail we needed to hike was near Letchworth. So we drove from Deposit to Letchworth for a six mile hike. We drove over 300 miles to do that hike. The next day we hiked another 16 miles to make the trip worthwhile. 2. We did a backpacking trip in early July of 2004. We had planned to do four days of approximately ten miles each day. The first two days everything went well. The third day we were hiking from Big Pond to Holliday-Berry Road. There was no water along the way to replenish our supply. I had a water filter but there were no streams. By the time we got to Holliday-Berry Road we were out of water and Joan’s knees were giving her problems. What do we do? We decided to drop the big packs. Joan hiked to the next road (Rt 206) while I went to Campbell Brook Road to pick up the car. After driving back to pick up Joan and the packs we went to the Roscoe Diner and drained them of their water. The highlight of my second trip across New York State was hiking with Joan. We had a great time together even when the weather was not good. We had many wonderful talks about life and developed a great friendship. I suggest that anyone who wants to hike the entire trail find a compatible hiking partner. Will I do another end-to-end? I doubt it. I do not think I could find any- one else who is as much fun to hike with as Joan was. Hiking the Finger Lakes Trail with my Friend Jack by Joan Jedele s Jack mentioned I had no intention of hiking the whole Finger Lake Trail (FLT) when I first started the hiking series across the counties. I was just enjoying meeting new friends and seeing parts of New York State that I had A never seen before. However, after the county series was done I decided that I wanted to finish hiking the whole trail and was glad that Jack wanted to hike the trails for the second time. It seems like there were a lot memorable hiking experiences including the experiences that Jack mentioned in his article. One that I remember in particular was hiking 22 miles with my daughter one day. I had missed two of Jack’s hike across Cortland County so I persuaded my daughter to hike with me and make up the hikes I had missed. It was a very hot day, but all went well until about the last 2 miles of road walk to Blodgett Mills. Our feet were so hot and tired and I did not think we would ever get there. My daughter said she would never hike with me again, but I actually convinced her to hike with me once more in Chenango County. Of course, my last hike across the state was also quite memorable. It was a cold fall morning, but the sun broke through the fog and it turned into a beautiful fall day. As with most of the hikes on the FLT we did not see any other hikers on the trails and it was very peaceful hiking the trail with such good company. One hiker in particular kept reminding me of an incident that happened on one the county hikes. Anyway, the rain held off until we finished. It was so nice to celebrate at night with friends, including my friend Jack, at the FLT Conference Fall meeting at Camp Amahami. -7- Mark Your Calendar Saturday, November 4 . . . . Walk, Look and Learn Hike #515. Pony Hollow. For details see early fall edition of Cayuga Trails. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Ithaca Shopping Plaza by Taco Bell across NY Route 13 from K-Mart Plaza, Ithaca. Co-leaders: Don Wilson (607)387-7500, [email protected] or Ed Hart (607)272-2943, [email protected]. Saturday, November 11 . . . Special hike. The Interloken Trail, Finger Lakes National Forest. Details page 5. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at parking area at south end of Interloken Trail off Burnt Hill Rd, north of Bennettsburg and south of Wyckoff Rd. Co-leaders: Jennifer Wilson (607)753-8641, [email protected] and Marsha Zgola (607)546-7367, [email protected]. Tuesday, December 5 … . . Cayuga Trails Club Executive Board Meeting. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at either Scott Heyman Conference Room, Old Jail, 125 East Court Street, Ithaca, or, second floor conference room Court House 320 North Tioga Street, Ithaca. Members welcome. . Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007… . . Cayuga Trails Club Annual Meeting and luncheon. Ramada Inn, 2310 North Triphammer Road, Ithaca. Look for flyer with details in December. CTC 2006 Executive Board Co-presidents ……….... John Anderson, Phil Dankert Vice President ………… Jim Connors Secretary ……………… Chris Proulx Cayuga Trails is published six times a year and is edited and Treasurer ……………… Jack Van DerZee published by Jim Connors. Comments and original contributions Walk, Look & are welcome. Deadline for the winter edition is December 15, 2006. Learn Hikes …………… Carol Mallison, Chris Proulx Send to [email protected] or 102 Old Stage Road, Groton, NY Finance ………………... June Meyer 13073 Guide Book …………… Tom Reimers Membership …………... Suzanne Cohen NEW Cayuga Trails Club website: http://cayugatrailsclub.org Social ………………….. Marsha Zgola Trails ………………….. Gary Mallow Newsletter …………….. Jim Connors Archives/Historian ……. Barbara Morley Publicity ………………. Carol Mallison Adopt-A-Highway ……. Vito Brancato Members at Large……... Sigrid Connors, Vito Brancato Cayuga Trails Club, Inc. P.O. Box 754 NON-PROFIT Ithaca, NY 14851-0754 ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROCHESTER, NY PERMIT NO. 51