Tramp & Trail

Hurricane Irene had everyone up and down the East Coast shivering with fright—even days before she arrived. The Weather Service predicted tremendous rainfall, flooding and hurricane-force winds.

So the Tramp & Trail Club hike for the Stone Quarry Art Park in Cazenovia seemed destined to failure. Despite a cold, steady rainfall, fog and gusty winds, co-leaders Pat M. and Jack P. carried through. No one showed up Madison Central School after 15 minutes of waiting, but we proceeded to our destination anyway. The art park was open, as scheduled.

Other cars were driving in, but their passengers were not interested in our hike. They had been invited, it appears, to a party at the caretaker’s house. Standing atop the tall hill in the parking lot, Jack’s umbrella ripped apart as soon as he stepped out of the car, but mine continued to shield me from the storm. We started to explore the trail through the woods, but it was impossible to stay day. We hiked perhaps 100 yards, then retreated. Nevertheless, the hike was officially recorded.

The Village of Cazenovia and a cozy diner beckoned. The college kids had arrived and the diner was packed with families. The frazzled waitress was annoyed when I asked for the soup du jour. “We didn’t have time to make it today!” she said, implying that they did not expect many guests on the day a hurricane was forecast.

Sitting by the window and seeing many passersby, it looked like an ordinary rainy, autumn afternoon. We learned later that the hurricane bypassed our neck of the woods and instead struck with unexpected ferocity farther east, especially the Southern Tier into Vermont.

Though the roads were still passable on our return trip, we saw significant flooding of farmer’s fields on Rt. 12 outside Waterville. Back in New Hartford, Genesee St. was closed off at the bridge near the Rt. 8 intersection due to high water. Thankfully, I found my house intact with excess water in the cellar only.

By Pat M.