Browsed by
Category: 2011

Hike #5942 – Rich Lake to the Hudson – July 3, 2011

Hike #5942 – Rich Lake to the Hudson – July 3, 2011

After shuttling cars and kayaks, 13 kayakers, started off in beautiful Rick Lake.

We soon came to the first and largest “rapids”.   With high water, it appeared that it would be navigable and Don, brave soul, took the lead.   As he disappeared, Madonna soon followed.  Don in the meantime rushed back to tell us that it was a 2 foot drop off as he watched Madonna gracefully take the plunge.   The rest of us carried around but many of us regretted for the rest of the day that we had not tried it!!

We had a few more rapids and some tried to go down them backwards but not having the experience of Grace, we were unable to maneuver it!

We lunched at Great Camp Santanoni where Bill brought us beverages, and then proceeded to the Hudson and back.    It was another perfect day and those in the group who were staying the night in Newcomb came back to the Higgerson’s for “leftovers”.

By:  Meg Higgerson

Hike #5940 – Northville Placid Trail – July 2, 2011

Hike #5940 – Northville Placid Trail – July 2, 2011

Our group of 14 met at the trailhead on Tarbell Road in Long Lake to hike north along the trail rather than south.   It was a beautiful day for a hike as we hiked with glimpses of Long Lake through mature hardwood forest.   We lunched on stone staircases which lead down to the water: remnants of a hotel that was once on Kelly’s point.

Returning on the same trail, in true Tramp style, we had watermelon and beer when we reached the trailhead!    Later that evening all returned to the Higgerson Camp for a potluck, where for effect, Meg and Bill had prearranged to have a number of deer swim across the lake to our shore.  To end the evening, a number of us then went to the 40 minute fireworks spectacular sponsored by the town of Newcomb.

By:  Meg Higgerson

 

Hike #5932 – Onondaga Lake Park – 6/4/2011

Hike #5932 – Onondaga Lake Park – 6/4/2011

We had 21 people show up for a 3-event outing. Two people were new. We broke up into groups of hikers, bikers, and kayakers.  All were out for about two hours and returned for a cookout. The clouds turned grey and it started sprinkling lightly. Since the charcoal was old, we had trouble starting it. Thank goodness for Dick Blanchard’s boat flair, which finally got the charcoal burning so we could cook our hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausage.

After lunch, many folks left because of the cool, drizzly weather. Nine of us stayed to hike the northern part of the park on a five-mile round trip trail.

By the time we returned to the picnic area, the skies were blue and the sun was shining.

By:  Mike Huss

Hike #5930 – Black Creek – 5/29/2011

Hike #5930 – Black Creek – 5/29/2011

Black Creek rises in the bleak fields and lonely forests north of the Town of Ohio and pours its dark waters into Hinckley Reservoir where it joins the West Canada Creek.  During the summer this stream has shallow spots, a few riffles and places where it is necessary to drag a canoe, but in the spring, and especially this year with its torrential rains, it provides a deep, smooth, and swift passageway from the crossing of Route 8 in Ohio to its mouth in Hinckley lake.

The State’s fiscal problems have caused them to raise the day use rate at the take out place at the State Park to $10, but negotiations between Emil Misiazek and the ranger resulted in our getting a bargain rate of $10 per four persons resulting in a total charge of $45 for our party of 18.  Everyone chipped in $2.50 and we parked five cars for a shuttle.  The put-in on Route 8 requires a descent down a steep bank.  Some of us achieved this by lowering our kayaks with a rope, but after Colleen Welch tipped her kayak most of the rest of the group elected to clamber down to the rocks under the bridge.

The current was swift at first but there were no obstacles and as we approached the lake it became much slower.  Birding is always good on this trip and we heard and saw many, including a chestnut sided, yellow,black throated green, and yellow throat warblers , veery thrushes, scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings and a great many ducks and geese.

Ed and Mary Campbell are very interested in butterflies and identified many while the rest of us were content to observe a great population of tiger swallow tails.  As we approached Hinckley Reservoir the creek flowed onto the lowlands creating a wonderland of flooded forests and bayous and an opportunity to take short cuts through the trees.  Emerging onto the lake we found almost no wind and waves and easily reached the State Park where we beached and loaded our boats onto the cars.

By:  Harold Pier

Hike #5922 – Deansboro Old RR – 5/1/2011

Hike #5922 – Deansboro Old RR – 5/1/2011

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, where temperatures were near 70, 36 Tramps came out to enjoy the spring day. There were three brand new hikers, one hiker on her third hike, and another on her 5th.  We walked the first two miles and about half of the hikers were interested in going further. One of our new hikers, Mike Bauer, was familiar with the trail and volunteered to lead the group another mile, ending at route 12B. The leader, Mike Huss, led the remaining members back to the Boro Tavern for drinks and sandwiches. Slowly, the long-distance hikers made their way back to the Tavern to join us for a drink.

By:  Mike Huss

Hike #5921 – Wynn Road Bridge – 4/30/2011

Hike #5921 – Wynn Road Bridge – 4/30/2011

Wynn Road bridge is a fine example of early Welch masonry skills.  Laid up in the early nineteenth century of huge limestone blocks without benefit of mortar, its beautiful round arches cross high above a little stream in a glen overlooking Steuben Valley.  Time has not been kind to the bridge and countless winters have caused the northern arch to collapse so that only half of the span still exists.

We reached this spot by peddling up four short but very steep hills and then walking our bikes over a dirt road to the bridge, crossing it and climbing the steep slope on the other side.

Here we walked a short distance down a farm road that afforded a nice view not only of the intact southern arch but also of the valley to the south and the Delta Lake area to the West.  We crowded back onto the bridge, hoping that the weight of 20 Tramps would not cause it to collapse before Don Fellows could take our picture.

Wynn Road intersects with Fish Hatchery Road where four of us elected to turn right and descend to Trenton Town Park.  The rest of us biked on up the long hill of Clemens road and then enjoyed a roller coaster ride west to the junction with Route 274. Finally with the wind at our backs we returned to the Park by Steuben Valley Road.  The ride was only fifteen miles long, but the many steep hills gave us a good workout

and the beautiful spring day with new leaves and spring flowers made this an enjoyable way to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the club.

By:  Harold Pier

Hike #5919 – Boonville to Whetstone Gulf/Pixley Falls – 4/17/2011

Hike #5919 – Boonville to Whetstone Gulf/Pixley Falls – 4/17/2011

The following went on the April 17 2011 hike. Harold Pier (co-ldr), Nancy Coleman  and Paul Fortin (ldr) Instead of a bike ride, we hiked the BRIEA Canal Trail starting at the End of the Trail trailhead on Rt 46, Gorge Rd. the hike was to Pixley Falls State park and about a mile beyond the park’s entrance. Our return took us the falls, which were roaring b/c of the past 12 or so hrs of rain and remaining snow run off. We continued to tramp the 1 mile loop along Lansing Kill, which had class one rapids, an unusual site for that usually serene stream, up the hillside back to the parking area. There is a Inukshuk and a cairn along a bourn coming down the hill. This would be a fine moderate snowshoe. We then walked to our vehicle.

By:  Paul Fortin

Hike #5917 – Floyd Town Park – 4/10/2011

Hike #5917 – Floyd Town Park – 4/10/2011

We had 19 members meet on an overcast day with a chance of a thunder storm. We ended up getting lucky during the entire hike, with only a few minutes of drizzle. Jean Yost, a 2-year member of the club, was able to talk her brother, Pat, into coming out for his first hike. He said he enjoyed it and hoped to come out again. After the hike, 14 people ended up at the Okey Dokey Restaurant for drinks and sandwiches.

Hike #5910 – Black Bear Mtn – 3/19/2011

Hike #5910 – Black Bear Mtn – 3/19/2011

On Saturday, March 19th, 2011; 11 hardy souls embarked on a trek from Uncas Rd to the summit of Black Bear Mountain. The temperatures were conducive, the skies started cloudy, but by the time we reached the summit the blue skies prevailed apon us!!

It was a glorious day and we thoroughjly enjoyed our sojourn with Mother Nature!

Top of Black Bear Mountain

It was great exercise with excellent company and friends!  Of course some of us got closer to Mother Nature than others, Why, even I got up close and personel with the snow.

By:  Deb Roberts

 

Hike #5907 – Osceola Tug Hill – 3/6/2011

Hike #5907 – Osceola Tug Hill – 3/6/2011

Only three die hard skiers showed up…Deb Roberts, Mary Connors, and Jerry Stelma.  It was pouring rain when we left the McDonald’s on Erie Blvd in Rome at 9:30. By the time we got to Osceola at 10:00 it was snowing, just like the online Weather Channel had forecast.  Hugh Quinn, the owner, said it had been snowing there for about an hour.   It continued to snow all day. The skiing conditions were great.  We skied about 7 miles, with a break for lunch in the lodge.  We volunteered Mary to be co-leader. She did a great job making sure we were all accounted for.  We skied trails with enough uphills and down hills for Deb to get the hang of snow plowing and face planting.  The day ended with beers at the Osceola Hotel.

By:  Jerry Stelma