Write-up: Don Fellows
Leader: Don Fellows
Co-Leader: Madonna Fellows

Sixteen tramps hiked the gorges in Ithaca on a beautiful day. On our way to the gorge the guy ahead of me must have washed his windshield and a few drops landed on mine causing me to have a moment of panic that we were going to be rained on. In a short time, the sun reappeared and stayed with us all day.

There were several who had never been to the gorges before which makes it nice to witness first impressions. We hiked up the gorge trail at Buttermilk Falls and down the rim trail for a 1.5mi. hike. We then drove to Robert Treman State Park where we were informed there was no swimming (OH SHUCKS) and the gorge trail was closed. We did a shuttle to the top of the gorge, had lunch and walked into the falls where the swimming area is to check that out. Since the gorge trail was closed we hiked the rim trail which was a nice climb in the woods. When we got to the bridge we crossed and there was no “closed sign” at that point so we continued up the gorge trail. This portion is the best part of the hike so I was glad it was open. When we got to the end the gate was closed and the sign read “trail closed” OOPS.

There was a notice that told how teams scale the cliffs and clear any loose rock in the spring before the trail is opened. There were piles of rock and shale on the trail we had just hiked. This portion of the hike was 2.25 mi. Next we wound our way back through Ithaca and north to Taughannock Falls State Park.

We hiked into the base of the falls and some of the tramps behind us said there was a landslide behind us and we would see it going out. Sure enough there were some good size rocks on the trail going back. This hike was 2 1/4 mi. for a total of 6 mi.
We stopped at the Empire Brewery for food and refreshments eating outside on their deck.
Beautiful day.