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Month: July 2016

#6543 – Stony Pond – July 31, 2016

#6543 – Stony Pond – July 31, 2016

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Write-up: Carolyn Eastman
Leader: Carolyn Eastman
Co-Leader: Bobbie Scarpino

rain-day-copy

Eleven crazy tramps went on a wet hike Sunday July 31st, 2016.
We took a 5-mile hike around Stony pond in Morrisville.

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The rain did stop…once we got back to our cars….LOL.
And for those of you that say you will only walk in the rain when pigs fly,
take a good look at this picture, you just may have to join us next time.

rain-day-4-copy
We stopped at Rays BBQ for music and cocktails. Another great time with the tramps.

#6542 – Hinckley Point Park – July 30, 2016

#6542 – Hinckley Point Park – July 30, 2016

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Write-up: Mary Lou Miller
Leader: Mary Lou Miller
Co-Leader: Ellen Myers

Ten of us did an easy-paced hike into the Point on Hinckley Lake. The weather was beautiful, the lake level was up and the bugs were nowhere to be found. Some went for a swim, while others enjoyed snacks and conversation.

New hikers were not sure about what to bring to share, so we had a delightful tailgate party on Stormy Hill Rd.

#6542 – Buffalo Head to Hawkinsville – July 30, 2016

#6542 – Buffalo Head to Hawkinsville – July 30, 2016

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

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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)

TnT Hawkinsville 7/30/16We stopped at the Hawkinsville dam for a lunch/snack break, enjoying the shade and the running river water.

Hawkinsville Dam

 

TnT Hawkinsville 7/30/16

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.

#6534 and #6535 – Newcomb Weekend #10 – July 16 & 17, 2016

#6534 and #6535 – Newcomb Weekend #10 – July 16 & 17, 2016

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Write-up: Meg Higgerson
#6534 Down the Hudson
Leader: Meg Higgerson
Co-Leader: Bill Higgerson

#6535 Stoney Pond to Irishtown
Leader: Meg Higgerson
Co-Leader: Grace McNasser

TnT Newcomb weekend - Hudson kayak

Learning the number of attendees would exceed thirty and with low lake and stream water conditions, the Higgersons puzzled over a location that would be new and exciting, could accommodate numerous cars and avoid shuttles. After meeting at our camp on Goodnow Flow, the flotilla of 31 boats proceeded another 5 miles on the dirt Chain Lakes Road to the Polaris or Iron Bridge on the Hudson. Following a carry of about ¼ mile, thirty-one kayakers bushwhacked over logs and down an embankment to the put-in on the Hudson. We had beautiful weather, scenery and companionship as we paddled up the Hudson and Goodnow Rivers, portaging over, around and sometimes through a number of beaver dams to a sand bar for lunch.

TnT Newcomb weekend - Hudson kayak

After lunch we took the current down the Goodnow, into the Hudson and paddled around the calm Blackwell Stillwater for 5-6 miles.

TnT Newcomb weekend 2016TnT Newcomb weekend 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Returning to the camp on Goodnow Flow, 35 Tramps enjoyed a BBQ and a smorgasbord of dishes as well as numerous recounting of the days various adventures. What a surprise to see no water in the Goodnow Flow! The dam is under repair and the water was significantly lowered. We went out on the rocks between the shore and island for a picture.

TnT Newcomb weekend 2016

On Sunday we set up a shuttle for 14 hikers. Taking a rarely used trail from Hewitt Pond, Barnes Pond to Stony Pond, we were often looking for the trail as we climbed over hill and dale. Visiting the shore of a number of special trout fishing areas, we also crossed marshes and beaver dams. The only person we met on the trail all day was Dick Blanchard’s dentist. We had a few laughs over that on the way back to our cars where we munched on refreshing watermelon before heading home.

TnT Newcomb 2016 Don

TnT Newcomb 2016 DonTnT Newcomb 2016 Don

TnT Newcomb weekend - Hudson kayak

#6533 – Shanty Brook – JULY 10, 2016

#6533 – Shanty Brook – JULY 10, 2016

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

TnT Shanty Brook 7/10/16 MKScott

The Shanty Brook hike is always intriguing with its many twists and turns, usually centered around wading across the East Branch of the Sacandaga River to reach the trailhead to Mud Ponds.

This year was no exception. On the previous Thursday, while doing the pre-hike with Doug Waz, the river was extremely low and the trail very dry, also very faint and overgrown in the upper reaches near the Mud Pond outlet.

Following the pre-hike, heavy rains had raised the water levels…and made the trail rather wet and muddy. Not to be deterred, a merry band of 16 Tramps crossed the river and headed toward Mud Ponds. A fine mist dissipated, and though there were threats, the day stayed dry.

TnT Shanty Brook 7/10/16

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TnT Shanty Brook 7/10/16

The first half-mile was wet from the encroaching undergrowth that almost totally covered the trail.
TnT Shanty Brook 7/10/16

We stopped to view the Shanty Brook Falls that seems to be a regular stopping point to take a water break.

TnT Shanty Brook 7/10/16

Progress seemed to be slowed by the trail conditions and that did not improve when we reached two beaver dams that had to be crossed one mile from our destination. Water was flowing over the dam. After starting to cross over it was obvious there were going to be a lot of wet feet if we continued. We decided to have lunch in the beaver meadow and voted to forego our original destination and started our return to the parking lot. Seven miles was going to have to be enough.

TnT Shanty Brook 7/10/16 MKScott

 

TnT Shanty Brook 7/10/16 MKScott

Back in the parking lot we enjoyed chilled bottles of water and watermelon before either stopping at the newly owned Oxbow Restaurant for further refreshments, or heading home.

#6531 – Crane Mountain – July 4, 2016

#6531 – Crane Mountain – July 4, 2016

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Write-up: Meg Higgerson
Leader: Meg Higgerson
Co-Leader: Joan Egan

Crane Mountain: The longest shortest hike ever!!
It was the 4th of July when seven early risers left home no later than 8:30am to drive to Mapledale and then on to Speculator and to Bakers Mills where they met their leader. From there the 8 of us wound through the countryside, past the entrance to the advertised “World’s Largest Pile of Goat Manure.”

We finally arrived at Crane Mountain around 11 am.
The steep and rocky climb was difficult with a number of scrambles. We remarked at how glad we were still able to do this and do it on such a beautiful Independence Day. Then we passed the “connector” trail and climbed 2 ladders before eventually reaching the summit.

TnT Crane Mt. 7/4/16 Jim
Once there, we savored the cool breeze, gorgeous views and, of course, our lunch!

TnT Crane Mt. 7/4/16 Jim

TnT Crane Mt. 7/4/16 Jim

We then started our descent from the summit to the Crane Mountain Pond. Again, we leisurely enjoyed the solace and beauty of the area. As we prepared to leave, a group of hikers came along who were very familiar with the trail and told us the best way to proceed was to take the connector trail and then descend over all those rocks we had relished climbing on our way up!

Off we went! We encountered a milk snake, (harmless but certainly feisty). The snake was a motivation for some of us to sprint like a gazelle down the rocks!

TnT Crane Mt. 7/4/16 Jim

We emerged from the trail shortly after 4pm and were surprised to learn we had only hiked 3.5 miles in 5 hours!!! As we feasted on watermelon, we all agreed that though a challenging hike, it was fun, leisurely and a perfect way to spend the 4th.
Now the long 2+ hour trek home but fun dinner plans were in the works before we left the parking lot!

#6530 – South Inlet Raquette Lake – July 3, 2016

#6530 – South Inlet Raquette Lake – July 3, 2016

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Write-up: Pam Carrier
Leader: Pam Carrier
Co-Leader: Joan Egan

A sunny, breezy day had 19 tramps enthused about a trip to the promise of waterfalls just two miles up the inlet. We meandered our way through the winding paths and even some obnoxious water chestnuts until we found the clear direction to our destination.
We enjoyed our lunches next to the cascading waters before approximately half of us wandered down the well-marked and sometimes very muddy trail to the original powerhouse of the Great Camp Sagamore. We paddled through the  middle of the inlet back to the put-in and found our trip quite easy. A nice young man who was enjoying his holiday helped to carry our boats back up the hill!!

After, we descended on Tony Harper’s only to find it closed, however, recognizing that opening a half-hour early would increase their holiday fun, they opened for us!! John Davis and Grace McNasser tended bar and took orders while the staff ran to the store. A good time was had by all.