Write-up: Kevin Perez Leader: Kevin Perez Co-Leader: Peter Franz Six Tramps enjoyed the beautiful snow-covered trees, majestic views, and friendly banter on a cold and sunny day. With only a couple inches of snow and numerous icy spots on the trail, we wisely chose micro-spikes over snowshoes for the climb.  While lack of snowshoes led us to forgo bushwhacking Echo Cliffs to Panther summit (after trudging through a couple hundred yards of deep off-trail snow), all agreed that the hike…

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Write-up: Paul Sirtoli Leader: Paul Sirtoli Co-Leader: Ron Carvin Known to rock climbing enthusiasts throughout the Mohawk Valley, and named after the sphagnum moss that carpets “Moss” Island, our troupe of seven saw no green while tramping through 5-inches of packable snow.  Our co-leader guide, Ron, did a marvelous job instructing and pointing out to his elder students the numerous kettle holes, the metamorphic rock, Black Tupelo trees, and a unique vernal pool generally indigenous to the Adirondacks. One of the…

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Write-up: Lisa Robertson Leader: Lisa Robertson Co-Leader: Bobbie Scarpino 19 Tramps registered, 13 showed at trailhead parking lot, whereupon 3 wisely – and immediately – opted out, without ever exiting their warm, dry car. 10 of us set out on trail, cheerfully assuming the unrelenting rain would (must?) stop any moment. As it turned out, we were lucky it didn’t, because we had the usually heavily trafficked trails all to ourselves! The constant cold, soaking rain kept us clean, even…

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Write-up: Greg Sipp Leader: Greg Sipp Co-Leader: Tom Smith On a beautiful day, five of us decided to explore East Pond. The group covered 9.5 miles, enjoying the scenery along the way. A notable highlight of the trip was the newly constructed bridge over the beaver pond, which added a unique feature to their journey.  We didn’t have to reroute nor get wet.  There’s also a future hike in the works to search for the Mica Mine just past Blackfoot…

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Write-up: Dave Rockwood Leader: Dave Rockwood Co-Leader: Carolyn Eastwood We had a group of five on this hike billed as 9 miles.  Paul, the original hike leader could not make it for medical reasons, so we picked up the torch and did the hike for him.  The trailhead toward Pine Mountain (Castle Rock/Upper Sargent Pond) is on the north shore of Blue Mountain Lake (near Minnowbrook Conference Center).  There is no trail up Pine Mountain. We had a cool, clear…

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Write-up: Greg Sipp Leader: Greg Sipp Co-Leader: Paul Sirtoli Fourteen signed up for the 3rd attempt at the Vly, four backed out.  Even on the schedule to co-lead, the Sirtoli name rings reluctance with many, not knowing that many of us are students of his “improved hiking” teachings.  Today, instead of his 20% addition rule to distance, it was a modest 10%. We started off the hike with Tom spilling the tea, and not the metaphor, he really spilled the tea.  Opening his trunk,…

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Write-up: Walt Pillar Leader: Walt Pillar Co-Leader: Instead of a stroll  through the woods, the first part of the hike at Basswood Pond was a trek through a waste land. DEC had, for some reason, clear cut most of the northern part of the forest and eliminated some of the trails.  We also surprised and woke up a woman camping in the lean-to by the pond. The rest of the 4-mile hike for the 23 participants was uneventful on a warm,…

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Write-ups: Group 1 – Bobbie Scarpino Group 2 -Greg Sipp Leader: Greg Sipp Co: Leader: Paul Sirtoli Leader: Bobbie Scarpino Co-Leader: From Group 1’s leader point of view!Aside from overshooting the seasonal road to the trailhead from the highway because it was misnamed on my map, I thought the hike was very organized! Perhaps it was the Group 2 leaders’ organizational skills that were amiss! Group 1 even had to maneuver a car shuttle that went off without a hitch!  Dividing into…

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Write-up: Paul Sirtoli Leader: Paul Sirtoli Co-Leader: Tom Smith I define a destination hike as a bushwhack excursion to a named location selected on a topographical map. It could be a remote pond, or mountain where no view is expected, but certainly welcomed. For me, and I assume the special friends who accompany me, it is a chance to engage the forest on its own terms, away from the popular, crowded trails. It is an encounter with our creator, if…

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Write-up: Bobbie Scarpino Leader: Bobbie Scarpino Co-Leader: Lori Waterman             On a spectacular autumn day, 27 Tramps journeyed 90 miles to the shores of Lake Ontario to experience one of New York State’s natural wonders. We were met at the entrance by the park ranger who explained how the bluffs were formed. They are drumlins made up of sediment left behind by the glaciers. Located right on the edge of the lake that looks more like an ocean, they are worn…

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