Tramp & Trail

Write-up: Meg Higgerson

Leader: Meg Higgerson

Co-Leader:

What was supposed to be a Memorial Day hike along the Vista Trail which overlooks the Fulton Chain of Lakes turned out to be a full fledged insurrection!!

Anticipated:
• Limited parking at the start point which was Sis and Bub trailhead
• Drop a car at the Bald Mountain Trailhead for a shuttle at the hikes end  • Stop for an after hike refreshment
• Some would not want to stop for after hike refreshments
• There was a parade scheduled in Old Forge
• The black flies would be awful

What happened:
• We met at Subway, then stopped at Alder Creek
• Regrouped and met a couple of “delayed participants”at Kratzys where we drop cars and carpool, figuring that will be the post hike refreshment spot. 

• We drive to Old Forge and run smack into the parade line up and blocked traffic.
• Detouring around Old Forge did not work. We were sitting there waiting for the parade to start, move and end.
• TOTAL INSURRECTION! The hikers overthrew the leader to insist we should hike McCauley Mountain rather than wait for the parade to pass. Later they revealed many had Memorial Day hot dogs on their mind and were concerned they might miss their evening meal.

• Being outnumbered, the leader agreed to not lead a hike up McCauley and follow the multiple colluders/co-leaders as they discussed the many routes to and from the summit.

• We were all rewarded by a beautiful view, great exercise, few black flies, cookies and finally a beer at Kratzy’s to precede a hot dog at home. A perfect Memorial Day sans parade.

Write-up: Lisa Lucas-Myers

Leader: Lisa Lucas-Myers

Co-Leader: Peter Baildon

On a beautiful day, 12 excited hikers enjoyed a journey through an amazing history of rock changes which began in glacier times.

We were awed by waterfalls of epic proportions after descending  the 180 steps of Jacob’s Ladder. Of course, what descends must ascend so 9 miles later, we had to climb those 180 steps since we were all too frugal to take the 6 dollar shuttle back to the upper parking area.

Our trek included the Gorge trail (breathtaking), the North rim (sky high), the spiral tunnel (twisty), the South rim (quiet wooded trail), and then the Finger Lakes Trail where we found an abandoned pavilion and an opportunity to access the water. Thanks to Peter for wearing red so I could identify the group under the rainbow falls and to all who joined the hike and made it a success!

Write-up: Jim Wasielewski

Leader: Ron Carvin

Co-Leader: Pat Hobbes

The Moss Island trail was closed due to construction so plan B was to regroup at the Little Falls Harbor. It was nice to see the sun but the wind, which gave us a boost going east made the return more difficult.

Thanks to Ron and Hobsie for an enjoyable ride.

Write-up: Jim Wasielewski

Leader: Mike Huss

Co-Leader: Peter Franz

Finally the clouds parted, the sun shone and the weather was right down hospitable. It felt like a rebirth which made this hike so enjoyable.

The after hike rendezvous was outside and Walt got the best of it. As Rod Stewart sang ” Some guys have all the luck”. Thanks to Mike and Peter for leading.

Write-up: Jim Wasielewski

Leader: Phil Gwynn

Co-Leader:

Examine the attached map closely. Notice that the red trail is the track of our July 2023 hike to Murphy Lake. The blue trail is today’s hike. Interesting huh…….It appears that none of us paid any attention to the sign or remembered which way to go. And we had this year’s top 3 hikers aboard. You may also wonder why there are so many photos of just Lorrie. I  was having a difficult day (maybe a premonition) and we turned back early. After 4 miles Peter checked his all trails app and not a lake to be found. Otherwise they’d still be hiking. A nice hike despite the rain and wet leaves, roots and rocks. Thanks to Phil for leading.

Write-up: Jim Wasielewski

Leader: Bob Myers

Co-Leader: Jim Wasielewski

The rain held off and the temperature was balmy, and got warm as we continued to hike. This ascent up McCauley is from the back side most of the way and provided a different perspective of the land geography. Springtime conditions prevailed as the trail was wet but not intolerable. And yes, the skies opened, the moisture descended upon us and the temperature began its noticeable nosedive. A very enjoyable hike and many thanks to Bob Myers for this new adventure.

Write-up: Jim Wasielewski

Leader: Mike Huss

Co-Leader:

The cleanup was on the Erie Canal Trail from Oriskany to Whitesboro. The weather held off and we didn’t experience any rain or snow. On the contrary, the temperature was in the 70’s.

Thanks to Mike for coordinating the event and the trash pickers supreme who discovered tires, hub caps and road cones, were they at a NASCAR race?

Write-up: Jim Wasielewski

Leader: Lorrie Wasielewski

Co-Leader: Jim Wasielewski

A bunch of fairly new hikers today,three first time hikers, 2 hikers with 2 hikes and 2 hikers with 3. A lotta young people searching the woods for the runaway beaver and me wearing my beaver hat. No wonder they weren’t too friendly. A pileated woodpecker was hacking away at a stump at the Eagle. Good hike for a rainy Saturday. Thanks to Lorrie for leading.

Write-up: Jim Wasielewski

Leader: Lorrie Wasielewski

Co-Leader: Karen Oeink

Eleven walkers showed up today for a stroll along the Rayhill Trail and through the environs of Whitestown. Only 9 are shown in the photo as Bobette recorded the event and the new lady didn’t want her photo taken. Either shy or in the witness protection program. Thanks to Mike for guiding Lorrie through the streets of Whitesboro and Karen for sweeping.

Write-up: Lu Blanchard

Leader: Lu Blanchard

Co-Leader: Peter Franz

The Oregon Trail to North Bend was in fine shape for a March hike. Parking lot was plowed out with plenty of room- although very icy. Snow was hard-packed enough that micro-spikes were able to be used, although some preferred snowshoes and all carried them for the way out in case the snow softened. (Except for one Tramp who let himself be talked into leaving his in the truck!)

The trail is a steady uphill for at least ½ mile, enough to get your heart racing and call for a steady shedding of outerwear. The woods were pretty quiet, not a lot of songbirds back yet. The stream along the left side of the trail was flowing hard and the beavers have widened it at certain points forcing the trail further to the right unless you want to wade. The first bridge afforded beautiful views of the vly and the stream and we stopped to enjoy them for a bit.

After the first uphill there are just steady rolls of up and downs with a few flat areas in between. There is a corner about 2 miles in that I’d forgotten about and we started down a trail to the vly, but about ½ way down I remembered that led only to the vly and probably was used by snowmobilers to take a shortcut across. Just a bit more in we met the other half of our group who left earlier and they reported a lot of blowdown and we couldn’t make it all the way to North Bend without major hassles. Since no one wanted to continue we turned around. Some decided to get extra miles by going into Cod Pond others did Auger Falls on the way back. The day was beautiful and we all worked up an appetite for the great dinner at the Camp.