Tramp & Trail Hiking Club

Hike # 6056 – LAKE ABANAKEE – June 23, 2012

June 23, 2012 mconnors921 Comments 0 Comment

It was a good day! A group of the Tramp & Trail Club members drove up to Lake Abanakee on Saturday for a sun-filled day of paddling a beautiful Adirondack lake. We left Utica in sunshine and low humidity – perfect weather for kayaking. By the time we got to the lake, we had driven through a few sprinkles and saw clouds off to the east accompanied by thunders low rumblings.

We soon had all of our kayaks/canoes in the water and began paddling along the eastern shoreline. It was a wonderful day to be out on the water; the sky was beginning to fill with billowing clouds, but most of the storm seemed to be way off to our east. Soon we left the main part of the lake and headed off into a winding waterway that we hoped would eventually lead us close to Indian Lake. We began winding along the waterway as it narrowed and the banks closed in on us.

At one point, as we rounded a bend, our leader stopped his kayak. As we all slowed behind him, we understood the reason for the stop – ahead was a flock of ducks – who soon proved to be used to people as they all came close to our vessels looking for a handout. When we decided to keep our lunches for ourselves, they went on their merry way in one direction and we continued on in another. A few bends later we saw a mama duck and her four fluffy-feather wee ones trying to hide along the banks’ overhanging bushes. She was not at all happy to see us and we soon paddled onward and left her and her wee ones in peace.

Pretty soon we came to a blockage – a small beaver dam – and had to turn around. It was a good time for a lunch break. As we sat in a narrow channel and ate we realized that both ahead and behind us the skies were blackening quickly. The low rumbling thunder that had kept us company up to now suddenly began to pick up in intensity so we finished our lunches and headed back to the cars.

As we came out of the channel the quickening winds tried to pull pour paddles out of our hands and, combined with the current, tried to drive us back into the channel. We paddled swiftly and made it to shelter under a bridge just as the skies opened up in torrential rains. We sheltered there for a bit, trying to remain under the bridge even though the wind and current tried to drive us back out. Finally, a few foolish ones of us decided we could get stuck under that bridge for quite a while and we might as well make a run for our cars – only ½ mile from where we were. This would not be the first time that the Tramps would find themselves rained on during a club adventure.

By the time we made it to shore, most of the rain had ended although the rumbling, receding thunder still kept us company as we stowed our gear on and in our vehicles and headed for home. What had started off as a day filled with thoughts of leisurely paddling in a sun-kissed Adirondack lake turned into a battle with the all Mother Nature could toss at us. Today we left feeling exhilarated at having overcome – it was a good day!

By: Dianna Morris

Hike # 6055 – GORE MOUNTAIN – June 17, 2012

June 17, 2012 mconnors921 Comments 0 Comment

Two years ago I gave up downhill skiing when I fell off the chair lift at Gore Mountain, reasoning that if I wanted to continue hiking it would be better not to be breaking my legs, but when the Tramp and Trail Club announced an ascent of Gore’s summit I couldn’t resist a chance to return without skis. This climb is not for the novice hiker or the faint of heart. Gore tops out at only 3583 feet, making it ineligible to belong to the famous 46 Adirondack peaks of greater than 4000 feet in elevation. In spite of this, a vertical ascent of 2560 feet and a ten-mile hike to reach the top makes this more difficult than climbing many of the 46.

The trail to the summit existed long before the ski slopes were established and was reopened in 2007 after being abandoned for many years. Because Gore is known more for downhill skiing than for hiking, the trail is only lightly used but it is a real gem, passing through a mature forest of magnificent red oaks, towering hemlocks, beeches and paper birch. Shortly after leaving the parking lot we began a steady, gradual climb with a few steep pitches.

The most beautiful but also the most difficult part of the trail started with a climb up the precipitous bank of Roaring Brook. Here we had to scramble over rocks and cautiously negotiate the sloping edge of the bank. The trail twists and turns and it is important to keep a close eye on the blue trail markers. This would be especially treacherous on a rainy day. Far below the brook cascades over many waterfalls into deep pools and if time had permitted we would have been tempted to take a dip in those cool, clear depths.

Although it was difficult to see them in the dense forest we heard the songs of many birds, an assortment of thrushes, ovenbirds, white-throated sparrows and a winter wren. The name of this latter bird refers not to the season when it sings but to its song, which like upstate New York winters seems to go on forever. The white blossoms of bunchberry, a dwarf dogwood, adorned the trailside.

At about two miles, the trail reaches North Pond Reservoir where roaring brook is impounded, providing water for snowmaking equipment. It now leaves Roaring Brook but then follows another, smaller stream. Along the way we crossed many ski trails, broad highways cut through the forest, and eventually emerged on a gravel access road that threatened never to reach the summit and its fire tower. Black flies now made their appearance and tormented us in spite of a cooling breeze as we ate our lunches at picnic tables and enjoyed a panoramic view of the High Peaks.

Descending a mountain requires less cardiovascular effort than climbing but is tough on aging knees, so we were happy to recline on a carpet of wild thyme and feast on ice cold watermelon, a fitting end to a rewarding climb.

By: Harold Pier

Hike # 6054 – ONONDAGA LAKE PARK, June 16, 2012

June 16, 2012 mconnors921 Comments 0 Comment

This outing got off to a rough start when we learned, late Friday night, that there would be a major power-boat race at the park on Saturday. Many of the hiking and bike paths were to be closed and our picnic area was going to be the main viewing place for the race. Therefore, we opted to move our event to Lock 20 in Marcy. It was a spectacularly beautiful day with sunshine, blue skies, and temperatures in the low 80s. Four people kayaked the canal, six hikers took the trail toward Oriskany, and nine people biked to Utica. Ted Thomas volunteered to stay back and watch over the coolers. Always prepared, Ted had brought a comfortable chair and a good book. After everyone had returned to the pavilion, Mike Huss fired up the charcoal and soon we were treated to aromas of hamburgers, hotdogs, sausage, and chicken cooking on the grill. The day had gotten quite warm and everyone was grateful for the shade of the pavilion while we enjoyed delicious food and the company of fellow tramps.

-by Mike & Janice Huss

Hike # 6053 – MONTARIO POINT – June 10th, 2012

June 15, 2012 mconnors921 Comments 0 Comment

Sometimes we question whether it is worth driving 70 miles to kayak 7, but in the case of Montario Point on Lake Ontario it was well worth the trip. Our leader took us on the winding backwaters of the protected bay. We went by beaver dams, through marshlands full of birds and ate lunch on the east side of the inlet. The beaches on both sides of the inlet had shallow water for swimming with a deep channel dividing the two shores. Many others kayaked to this spot from the launch and larger boats entered from the lake to troll and cast for fish. I saw one group catch a nice size large-mouth bass. Unfortunately it was one week shy of opening day for bass so they had to throw it back!

There was a rope swing just in from the inlet, but with the water clouded with mud & silt no

one from our group wanted to take the chance of landing on a submerged log. We decided to take a swim, enjoy the sun and the watermelon and home baked cookies thoughtfully provided by our leader and co-leader.

It was an easy paddle on calm water. Even Lake Ontario was on its best behavior and we could easily have paddled down the shore to our cars. Some long-time members remembered paddling the same spot maybe 15 years back and said that the water level had changed a lot. At one time the lake met the backwater where we launched, now there is about 150 feet of beach between the two. They also remembered the water being much clearer. None of us were sure, but we all figured that some of the aquatic plants were probably invasive species and that is why the water was becoming choked by them. Nature usually has checks and balances, but in the case of invasives, nature often can’t catch up with the rapid growth and propagation of these pests.

The day ended at the Rainbow Shores restaurant and motel. Now if you have never heard of this establishment it would not surprise me as we never could have found it but for our leader having spent a lot of time in that area in her younger years. The restaurant is a gem of a place. It has capacity for small parties and wedding receptions, has a nice patio and outdoor seating in the back and I hear the sunsets are fantastic! The food was tasty and though the menu offered many of the usuals their presentation was often unique. Such as a turkey sandwich with apple slices, cheddar cheese, cranberry sauce and horseradish mayo, served with homemade chips. As my husband often says, “It was to die for!” and big enough that we were glad we split one. A final stop for ice cream made the day complete!

By Lu Blanchard

Hike # 6051 – ROGERS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER – JUNE 3, 2012

June 3, 2012 mconnors921 Comments 0 Comment

Nine tramps ignored the rainy forecast and 60-degree weather, and met at the starting point at the Waterville Post Office. As the time to leave approached, the skies opened up and we ran to our cars to start our drive down route 12 to Sherburne. By the time we arrived, the rain had let up and we were able to light up the charcoal, cook our hot dogs and hamburgers, and enjoy a picnic lunch. Although the grey skies continued, we were able to hike the trails of Rogers Environmental Center with only a minimal, intermittent drizzle. The usually abundant turtles were nowhere to be seen, although some sharp-eyed tramp did spot the head of one peeking out of the water. Beautiful purple, white, and yellow wildflowers, along with the fragrant aroma of various flowering bushes made the hike quite enjoyable. As we made our way back to the pavilion where we had left our coolers, cooking utensils, and left-overs, we saw a crow attacking a bag of taco chips that had been left on a table. It was closed, but the crow had ripped the bag and was enjoying his unexpected treat. A red squirrel was watching him closely, waiting for his chance to snatch up some of the pickings. We chased both of them off. Luckily, we had securely covered all the other goodies and were able to have a snack before we called it a day. One of our hikers, Greg Perez, completed his fifth hike and another, Donna Wester, who is also a geocacher, was able to find eight caches. It was a successful day for all.