Tramp & Trail

Write-up: Dianna Morris
Leader: Dianna Morris
Co-Leader: Meg Higgerson

The first day of 2020 had 39 Tramps gathering to walk the 840 trail on a chilly, blustery day. We began the outing toasting the New Year with Ferrero Rocher Hazelnut chocolates in plastic wine glasses (Tramps always do things so stylishly). This was followed by actual bubbly (non-alcoholic) in the glasses. Thanks to Meg Higgerson for the New Year’s toasting treats.

Shortly after leaving the Best Buy parking lot we headed into a biting wind and pretty soon most of our noses and eyes were watering from the breath-stealing cold winds. (Did you know that your eyes tear up in response to cold winds as a reflexive way to keep your eyes healthy? Basically, the wind and lack of moisture of the dry winter air combine to signal our bodies to provide more moisture to keep our eyes protected.) I’m sure I was not the only one who wondered if the entire walk was going to be this chilling – but, like Tramps always do, we looked ahead and consoled ourselves with thoughts of the return walk when the wind would be at our backs.

Once we crossed Middle Settlement Rd and were on the more secluded path, we all felt better and the sun even came out to provide a bit of warmth.  Since there was no way of anyone getting lost on this walk, the Tramps each settled in to their own comfortable walking speeds, with lots of conversations ongoing.

We turned back once we got to Halsey Rd and the walk back was much easier than the initial walking. If anyone knows the exact mileage of the trail from Clark Mills Rd to Halsey Rd, it would be interesting. The sign on the road stated it was ½ mile between the roads. Various Tramp-worn GPS or fitness apps had the distance much less. We decided to go for the official road distance, making the walk that day around 5 miles. What a great way to begin 2020!

Write-up: Dianna Morris
Leader: Dianna Morris
Co-Leader: Bobbie Scarpino

Twenty-three Tramps (including 3 first-time folks who joined us) braved the cold, wind and pelting snow/ice balls to walk the canal trail between Herkimer and Little Falls. When we first met up in the parking lot of Gems Along the Mohawk there were bright blue skies and no precipitation – but quickly the black wall of clouds moved in bringing strong winds and icy precipitation to sting our faces. Did that stop the Tramps? Of course not. Off we went.

The trail was mostly covered with a slight layer of snow and ice – but not enough that we needed spikes.  With the wind at our backs we headed off with much conversation about what it was going to feel like once we had to turn around and walk back into the wind. We made it the 2.1 miles to the old Stone Church where we stopped to decide if we would go onward to the next lock in Little Falls or turn back. While tossing around the idea of going on or turning back, we took time out to pose for a photo on top of an old stone wall near the churchyard cemetery and to engage in a snowball fight of the Tramps vs. Tom Smith. (Tom lost!)

Four Tramps opted to continue hiking and the rest of us turned back. Fortunately, the wind had died down and the return walk was not what we had all been dreading. After a brief snack of home made Christmas cookies, we all went our separate ways, content in knowing we had braved the weather and had another great outing.

Leaders: Deb Roberts and Halsey Bagg
Write-up: Halsey Bagg

Over the river and through the woods to Deb & Halsey’s house they came… chili, salad, cornbread and libations topped off with Half Moons enjoyed by all on Friday evening. Fresh snow made for a beautiful winter wonderland as we enjoyed our morning coffee and breakfast.

Saturday, Dec. 7 – Burnt Bridge Trail

On a sunny winter day, with newly fallen snow clinging to the trees, six tramps started snowshoeing the Burnt Bridge trail, located just east of the “hustle and bustle” (lol) of the Cranberry Lake Hamlet.

Although it was only 20 degrees, everyone quickly became overheated and started removing layers of clothing. We enjoyed the beauty of the snow-covered trees, particularly when the snow falling from the trees started cascading from high in the treetops.

We went 2.5 miles through the State Forest and then returned for a total of 5 miles. Our goal was to reach a pond created by beavers. After 2.5 miles Deb decided we had gone far enough. After returning home and looking at the GPS trail, Halsey told us we were about a football field away from the pond and beaver hut.

This trail is shared with the Cranberry Lake 50, which our very own Sharon Kaelin hiked this summer in two days. Usually experienced hikers take at least three days to complete the 50 miles.

Janice did great on her first snowshoe in over a year.

Kody was glad to see us all come home and we spent the afternoon with soup and a warm fire. Went out to dinner at the Thirsty Moose. Good times with great people.

 Sunday morning…. Coffee, pancakes with homemade syrup, blueberry muffins, and bacon; then off to another hike.

Sunday, Dec. 8 Lost Pond Trail Hike

Seven people snowshoed the 2.2 mile loop around Lost Pond, starting from the Cranberry Lake Boat Launch trailhead. This trail is also shared with the Cranberry Lake 50.

We knew there was a bald eagle nest, and eagles had been seen this past summer. There was anticipation to see the nest and high hopes of seeing bald eagles. We found the nest. Then, as we started around the pond, Deb’s eagle eye spotted big birds in the air.  Lo and behold, we saw three bald eagles, one adult and two fledglings. The adult flew directly over us, so close we could clearly see his white plumage and gold beak. We saw many wildlife tracks in the fresh snow. We think there were porcupine and coyote tracks.

Write-up: Jim Wasielewski
Leader: Jim Wasielewski
Co-Leader: some stand-in

My sweep stood me up for a better offer, my brother abandoned me, I felt like an orphan. However I survived the temperature in the teens, fresh snow and hiking uphill to Hidden Peak.

Thanks to the other hikers who broke trail for this old man.

Almost to the top a snowcat showed up and rolled the trail. Neat. Nice day hiking with fellow tramps.

Write-up: Lu Blanchard
Leader: Lu Blanchard
Co-Leader: Mary Pat Connors

Well, it seems like Cotton Lake all over again. First the road to the trailhead was closed due to flooding when we tried to pre-hike the trail to West River Falls. Then it was open and Mary Pat, being the brave soul she is, drove the four of us back to the trailhead past multiple hunting parties and over a heavily rutted road and sketchy bridge that she bottomed out on! But, we made it to the trailhead and started off.

The day was cold but clear and sunny. Following the description in a brochure we found the “unmarked trail to the left” and proceeded through beautiful open woods on a fairly level path for about a mile. Then we hit Hamilton Lake stream and the bridge that the ranger had told me was there this summer when I checked must have also been taken out by the flooding! With the stream too deep, and with no good stepping stones, and too wide to cross we turned around and checked out a small portion of the NPT.

But, you can bet this hike will be on again when the weather is warm enough to wade across. It took 4 hikes to finally find Cotton Lake and we will find West River Falls too!

Write-up: Jerry Stewart
Leader: Carolyn Eastman
Co-Leader: Bobbie Scarpino

Sunday adventure. Tramp outing Sunday to Owl’s Head Mountain and fire tower. Short days, it was up early and to the meeting place by 9. Beautiful sunny day, being a passenger, I got to take in sights you can’t when driving. The scenery was awesome, lakes just starting to skim over with ice. Some more than others, none on Blue Mountain Lake which was strange. That lake is cold even in July! There was snow on the trail but not enough to warrant snow shoes for most of us.

Off we went for the 3.1 miles to the tower. A little icey and vertical near the top, we were rewarded with awesome views from the tower.

Heading back to the cars the girls got a headstart so I had to kick it onto Montana gear to catch them! It’s so much easier and faster going downhill. Quick stop at Long Lake for a few pictures, beach closed. A stop at Kratzy’s for a cold beverage to end the day.

Write-up: Walt Pillar
Leader: Walt Pillar
Co-Leader: Greg Sipp

19 of us tramped 6.1 miles around the back trails and lake of this state park on a cloudy, damp day.
The hike included passing three ponds and eating lunch by the lake. After lunch, we walked around the lake and saw some of the stone pavilions and lean-tos built by the CCC.

Write-up: Pam Carrier
Leader: Pam Carrier
Co-Leader: Margaret Decker

The Halloween goblins pulled some nasty tricks beginning late on October 31. The flood waters raised from the torrents of rain and the wind howled causing havoc on our roadways and canal way. Numerous tramps and would-be tramps attempted to find their way to River Street parking lot in Oriskany. It proved to be too challenging even for the Tramps.  With all the roadways closed that would allow for access, members who could find their way to either end of River Street came up with new plans. There were three hikes in one this day. Four members were able to access Lock 20. Eleven met at the route 49 end of River Street and eight met at the route 69 end of River Street. With the canal trail in shambles, one group walked the Oriskany trail to the west. The Lock 20 crew walked where they could and perused the damage. Those meeting up at the Rt 49 end of River Street moved to SUNY IT to walk. Some walked three to five miles and some walked closer to seven. The sun shone on the Tramps on Saturday. It will be some time before the canal trail recovers.

Write-up: Hugh Mason and Jan Fellenz
Leader: Hugh Mason
Co-Leader: Jan Fellenz

Thirteen Tramps and a helpful Carpenter Road loving non-Tramp spent several hours doing trail maintenance on the Carpenter Road ski/hike/snowshoe trails that the club has helped maintain for many years. The weather gods smiled on us, providing comfortable temperatures and no rain despite a bit of spitting encountered on the drive to the site. Two groups covered either 4 or 6 miles of trail, leaving them vastly improved via their efforts by tossing, trimming and sawing. Jan and Hugh will return and replace intersection maps before the ski season so that navigation is never in doubt.

We were especially lucky to have John Gilbert participate in the cleanup as he lead the very first Tramp and Trail maintenance at Carpenter Road and performed admirably as trail steward for many years. John’s encyclopedic recollection of past outings at Carpenter Road made a great day even more enjoyable.

Thanks to all who came out and enjoyed a productive day with us.

Jan & Hugh

Write-up: Dianna Morris
Leader: Dianna Morris
Co-Leader: Madonna Fellows

Popple Pond State Forest located in Boonville and Forestport was the original destination for this day’s outing – until I pre-hiked it, spoke with a DEC ranger who also happened to be out in the woods that day, and was informed that he would highly recommend we not hike the forest that close to hunting season as many new, young hunters use the forest to get used to their guns! I took his advice.
A group of about 30 Tramps met up in Mapledale and took off for the Trenton Greenbelt trails. Fortunately, Don Fellows and Mark Decker were more familiar with these trails than I was or we might still be wandering around! The logging that was done since I was last on these trails several years ago which resulted in what looked like trails going hither and yon would surely have succeeded in getting me lost.

It was a gorgeous, sunny, but cool day to be out hiking. Of course, one Tramp who was not willing to concede to the cooler temps showed up in shorts and might have had goosebumps as a result on his legs. It as much cooler in the woods than out in the sunny parking lot!
Don started us off by suggesting we reverse the normal hike on the trails, so we went down the steep hill we normally walk up at the end of the hike. There was much talk about the coming cross-country ski season and how nice it is to ski on the trails…until we came around a bend to find a tree across the trail at chest height and all were happy to not be wearing skis at that point! We meandered onward, eventually coming back to the road – and then were very thankful to allow Mark Decker to take over to lead us back along the trail and then back into the woods. Mark really knows those trails! We finished off the hike by then ascending the steep part of the trail we had started off on. It was such a beautiful day and the parking lot was so bright and sunny that many lingered a bit to enjoy talking, eating local- grown kiwis contributed by Lorrie Wasielewski and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies contributed by the hike leader.