Tramp & Trail

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