Write Up: Nancy Agen
Leader: Nancy Agen
Co-leader: Margaret Decker

27 Tramps started out on a chilly but sunny day to walk down the canal starting in North Utica with plans to circle the marsh and return by way of the trail that leads back to the observation tower.

After crossing the railroad tracks, we started down Barnes Ave. and we suddenly started to hear loud gunshots nearby on the right side of the road.  Obviously, all were alarmed and were hesitant to proceed.  After a few minutes listening to the fast cadence of the shots, it was agreed that the shooters were target practicing and that they would not be shooting towards us or their own cars which they had left on the road in front of us. At that point, almost everyone decided to proceed down the road and we soon saw the perpetrators.  Alas, because 4 of our original hikers had now abandoned us, I have to admit a cardinal rule of the club was broken. We had lost more than 10% of our hikers!

We proceeded down Barnes Ave., made one incorrect turn and had to backtrack a little.  The left turn to follow the trail around the marsh is quite obvious but a good distance from the railroad tracks.  We followed the trail to where it split.  First, we went to the right to see the Mohawk River which is not far and then we returned to the split and followed the trail to the left which skirts one end of the marsh through the Phragmites which is an invasive species of wetland grass. There were some geese in the distance and beaver lodges close by. We were quite close to the water but the trail was dry.  It would be a wonderful place to observe migrating birds in the spring and fall.

We followed this trail as it circled back and merged with the observation tower trail and then headed over the railroad tracks back to our cars.