Though this Christmas Eve Day outing was to be a ski or snowshoe our record breaking warmth this December resulted in a several mile hike on a crisp, snowless December morning. Twenty one participants enjoyed the trails of the Trenton Greenbelt and then “tailgated” with good cheer, Christmas cookies and cider.
Sixty Nine Tramps showed up to celebrate the fact that the club has conducted six thousand hikes during its ninety year history. Due to a total absence of snow we hiked the frozen BREIA Egypt Road Ski Trails and honored the custom of hanging food for the birds on trees along the way. We divided into three groups depending upon the difficulty of the hikes. One group, led by Carol Dippolito hiked around the Rim Trail, Mike Huss led another group up and down the Gully Trails, while Harold Pier led a group on a longer hike on the Great Trail out to Echo Lake Road and back. We had completed about 2/3 of the Great Trail hike when we realized that it would be getting dark in about 45 minutes so all but three of us turned around and returned to the lower parking lot. The rest of us hiked to the top of the hill where we had a view of Echo Lake road before turning around, and sure enough, we had to hike that last half mile out in the gathering darkness. As a penalty for our zeal, we didn’t get back to the Knights of Columbus hall until after five, missing the social hour in front of the fireplace downstairs and almost being late for dinner.
And what a dinner it was! Louie Casatelli, Meg Higgerson, Grace McNasser, Dianna Morris, Lu and Dick Blanchard and Nancy Coleman had set out tables decorated with LED candles and spruce bows and several groaning boards had been erected to accommodate the many, many “dishes to pass” that even included a whole roast turkey supplied by Lu.
After dessert Bonnie Sanderson introduced Santa Claus who reminded us that this was also the anniversary of the births of Carole Huxtable and Joan Purpura. Bonnie then led us in singing a medley of familiar carols and popular Christmas songs. A special feature was a rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas with individual groups being responsible for the French Hens, The Pipers Piping, The Golden Rings, etc. Each group acted out the different days and improvised their own gestures. No one will easily forget Charlene’s use of a beer bottle to portray a Piper Piping.
In past years we have employed Santa for a grab bag gift exchange, but this time we replaced this custom with a gift box for donations to the Food Bank of Central New York. Our Treasurer, Mike Huss, tells us that as a result, a check for $416 will be sent to the Food Bank. It is nice to know that others will have a little share of our Christmas feast.
By: Harold Pier
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.