Sixteen Hikers enjoyed this beautiful sunny December day to hike to the highest point in Oneida County. The lovely view and great company compensated for a few slips and slides on the gravel road. We had 3 new hikers out with us. For 2 this was their 4th hike and for 1 his 2nd.
By: Meg Higgerson
The group met at the Herkimer Thruway exit to carpool and travelled first to Sharon Springs and then on to the Nose. 22 hikers convened on the historic streets of Sharon Springs, met town folk in their Victorian garb , including one of the Beekman Boys in their mercantile store, and enjoyed the shops and side street walks to view the historic old hotels, baths, and homes. We even got a tour inside one of the homes now used as a B&B.
At the hike up Vroman’s nose, the sun warmed our faces on the cliff side. The views were enjoyed by all, and the damage caused by Hurricane Irene were easily detected in the Schoharie Valley below us.
After the decision, some ventured back to Sharon Springs to eat, others stopped at a diner in Middleburgh.
We had a perfect day for Mystery and Hiking!!! The 19 participants regrouped at Byrne Dairy in Thendara to learn that they would be going to the Sis and Bub parking area off Route 28. At that point we all hiked the Vista Trail which provided us with a number of challenging climbs and descents along the esker overlooking Fourth Lake. Our views were spectacular on this unusually warm November day. After the close to 3 mile hike on the Vista Trail, we returned to our vehicles via the easy TOBIE trail.
By: Meg Higgerson
A beautiful day for November, sunny with a light breeze, and 23 Tramps, driving 11 miles of dirt road to get to the trailhead. The hike was easy, on a well maintained trail. The hike was approximately 2.3 miles to an isolated lake that had been the site of an estate built in 1904. No signs of the great camp could be found, even after a bushwhack along the lake shore. Blue skies at an old campsite provided our lunch stop. There were no mishaps, no moose sightings, and Lu Blanchard as our sweep. We gloried in a magnificent tree spotted during the return trip, which easily had a trunk diameter of 8 feet or more. We stopped at the Hard Times Café for refreshment after the hike.
On a dreary, drizzly morning 13 Tramps started out from Utica to the Helderbergs, a name that means “bright mountains”, optimistic that the weather would clear and that the mountains would live up to their name. By the time we reached Thatcher Park, the rain had stopped and we did experience patches of sunshine throughout the day.
After meeting Dianna M.’ daughter and 6 year old granddaughter, hiker extraordinaire, we started our hike on the Indian Ladder Trail. The trail descends halfway down the escarpment, utilizing a series of steep but sturdy steel ladders. It continues along the face of the limestone cliffs, at times forcing hikers to duck beneath massive overhanging rocks. At two points we actually walked in back of beautiful waterfalls swollen to torrents by recent rains. All along the trail a view to the north and north east reveals the Adirondacks, The Green Mountains and by contrast, the white towers of Albany. At the end of the Indian Ladder trail we walked along the top of the escarpment, continuing to relish magnificent views. After lunch in a picnic area we headed for the woods where we meandered onto every trail, seeing deciduous and hardwood forests, muddy wetlands, and sites of a former paint mine and a hop field. At one point we found ourselves at the top of a steep bank overlooking a pond with a bird’s eye view of 2 beaver lodges and a beaver dam.
Most of us stopped at the Golf Course and Cider House Restaurant for some delicious soup, entrees and adult beverages. Here we learned that golfers are louder than even our loudest hikers.
Cross country skiers already anxious for snow on that late October day, dream of returning to Thatcher Park for some great rides down the hilly trails.
By Nancy C.
On a very warm fall day, where the temperature hit 78 degrees, nine people journeyed to Rogers Environmental Center to explore their grounds. First, we looked for trout in the trout ponds. Not many were to be found.
For the second part of the trek we hiked up to the Farm Tower for a spectacular, 270-degree view of the surrounding countryside, resplendent with beautiful fall colors of red, orange, and yellow. After traveling back down the hill we walked to the trail along the Chenango River. Unfortunately, most of the trail had been washed away by the heavy rains we had during the year. We were, however, able to do many of the trails around the marsh. After the hike, all nine of us stopped for ice cream and enjoyed the warm summer-like afternoon.
By Mike H.
The day was cloudy but warm. We parked by the old Welsh chapel on E. Steuben Road. The hike up Penn Mountain was the steepest grade on the hike.
At the tee we turned right and went down the hill and up again to the cemetery. We examined the tombstones and checked the dates. Some people turned back at this point. We went down the hill past the cemetery to a low point which had a stream running over and was difficult to cross.
After the low point we turned left, and walked into the small pond that is in the area. The road was not in the best of condition. When we reached the dam for the pond we found that the day had been considerably torn up by wheeled vehicles that puts the pond and dam at risk.
After the pond we retraced our route down the hill to the cars. The trip down offered us a fine view of the Cincinnati valley.
On an overcast, rainy day, ten people took a chance that they would not get wet and it paid off. No rain on the three-hour outing. We hiked to Fairchild Hill for a view of the lake and were rewarded with a picturesque scene of six sail-boats taking advantage of the blustery day. From the overlook we traveled down the hill to the Lorenzo Museum and walked around the grounds and garden. It was amazing how many flowering bushes were still in bloom on the first of October. We came upon, what looked like a fountain. But on reading the sign next to it, we learned that it was actually one of the ornate watering troughs that had once lined the streets of Cazenovia so passing horses could get a drink of water. It was an interesting piece of history. After the hike, six of us stopped as the Lincklean Tavern for drinks and sandwiches.
By Mike H.
On a rainy, drizzly day, 24 people hiked up the old ski trails to the base of McCauley Mountain. This included three new people and our child hiking star, Chloe W., Debby R.’s granddaughter. As usual, Chloe was in the lead.
On arriving at the base, we were looking for cover so we could enjoy our lunch. One of the new folks, Tom S. turned the handle on the lodge’s back door and found that it opened. This enabled us to have lunch on the inside lodge picnic tables, thereby avoiding the rain. After lunch, and desert of Snicker’s bars, we ascended McCauley to see the fall foliage. Even though it was a grey day, the colors were still brilliant, with an abundance of crimson. After the hike, 15 of us traveled to the Buffalo Head Restaurant to enjoy drinks and dinner.
By Mike H.
A perfect early fall day and the beautiful scenery of Steuben Valley provided us with a perfect appetizer for our corn roast. The uphills were gentle and the downhills neither too fast nor too slow. Five Tramps elected to turn around at Steuben Corners while the rest of us proceeded to Crill Road and back to the park completing a 17 mile loop. Sweet Corn, salt potatoes, baked beans and barbequed chicken awaited us at the pavilion.
By: Harold Pier