Tramp & Trail

Write-up: Mary Pat Connors
Leader: Mary Pat Connors
Co-Leader: Roger Felske

The weather gods were with us, relieving us of the extreme heat of previous days.

The day began with temps in the sixties and with slightly overcast skies. From the Buffalo Head, we followed the route north on Lake Rd. to Kincaid to Horton. Here the traffic was very low and the peace enjoyable. Once we reached Route 28 however, there was much traffic zooming by, as expected on a Saturday in July. Fortunately there is a wide shoulder on this gradual but steady uphill to Woodgate.

After turning onto Woodgate Rd., several made pit stops in the Woodgate Library.

Traveling this hogsback of Woodgate/Hawkinsville Rd. is very enjoyable with a favorite downhill covering about a mile of curving shaded road.

We passed by the Hogsback State Forest, a part of the Adirondack Foothills Management Unit, which consists of six state forests and 21 detached parcels of Forest Preserve. “The majority of these State Forest lands were purchased in the early 1930’s, in an effort to reclaim poor, unproductive farm lands and prevent further serious soil erosion…Civilian Conservation Corps Camp S-122 was located where the DEC Maintenance Facility now is on the Hawkinsville Road, adjacent to Hogsback State Forest. From about 1935 to 1941, many young men planted trees, and built roads, bridges and fire lanes in the surrounding area.” (http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/97049.html)

We stopped at the Hawkinsville dam for a lunch/snack break, enjoying the shade and the running river water.

We continued on Edmonds Rd. past the put-in for the public fishing stream and followed along the Black River, a very picturesque part of the ride. Crossing the now-closed bridge on foot we then made the ascent up to Millers Woods Rd and back to Forestport and the Buffalo Head.

The Tramps have been very pleased to have the Buffalo Head re-opened so we can again enjoy some cold beverages there.