Streams And Gullies

Reading Time: 13 minutes The “winter that would never end” finally broke and I was able to take my first hike of 2018.  I picked up where I left off last fall and continued heading west from Kennedy Road.  The trail took me around a farm and up a hill.  Over the next four miles I crossed 14 streams and gullies, some barely a dip in the trail, but others forced me to carefully pick my way down and scramble back up the other side. 

After navigating the streams and gullies I came to a long road-walk down Fox Hill Road.  From there I hiked along Keshequa Creek and then up Cheese Factory Road.  After a short hike through the woods I arrived at Smith Hill Road.  A red fox scooted across the road and a farm dog joined me for a short walk.  I passed another hiker out enjoying the nice weather just before reaching Short Tract Road and my turn-around.   

A quick lunch and I pressed on as fast as I could racing the sun.  I trudged up the long climb on the road-walk up Fox Hill Road.  After leaving the road I entered the stream and gully section of the trail and slipped and slid down the banks and scrambled back up the other side over and over.  Finally I came back down the hill behind the farm and turned onto Kennedy Road, only to be confronted by a train barreling down the tracks between me and my car.

Backtracks And Blue Sky

Reading Time: 15 minutes After cancelling hikes in both May and June due to bad weather it was time to get back out. I planned out a longer hike than usual, around 24 miles. Beautiful deep blue skies arched over me on this long hike. I wound my way around fields of new corn and climbed up a ridge line to see an expansive view over the Genesee River Valley. Across the river I made my way down a pleasant path called the Genesee Valley Greenway. After leaving the greenway behind I climbed once again and made my way through a winding wooded trail. The trail opened out in a field and I made my way down the middle with another impressive and expansive view. A road-walk ahead was made somewhat better by the scenery. On my way back I stopped for lunch under a bridge with an artistic and uplifting graffiti. The last few miles of the return hike were hard, but the scenery and views had been worth it and I was rewarded by one last impressive view just before finishing.

Sugar Maple Farm

Reading Time: 15 minutes Another long drive and long hike.  I started my journey in the pre-dawn darkness, arriving at the trailhead shortly after 7 am.  I waded through numerous fields of tall grass still wet with dew, the water slowly seeping into my boots and dampening my socks.  After leaving the fields behind I came to a strange sight of blue tubing criss-crossing the trail and running wild through the woods.  I quickly realized I had found a large sugar maple farm.  After leaving the sugar maple farm behind I took a short road-walk and crossed another field before arriving at NY 19 and CR 3.  A very long slog up CR 3 and I finally came to the trailhead.  Here I discovered the spiral trace of a lightning strike on a tall red pine.  I left the lightning struck tree behind and made my way through a rough section with many small branches down on the trail and three tree falls.  An old growth black cherry tree provided a short scenic detour.  Once again I was back on a road-walk and then took a short wade across Sixtown Creek before climbing up Swift Hill State Forest through a section that had been recently harvested for timber.  I arrived at my turn-around and started my long hike back to my starting point.  After a little over 11 hours and nearly 25 miles I had completed my hike.

Under 100

Reading Time: 13 minutes Another early start and long drive to reach the trailhead.  I pressed my luck and drove on fumes to reach one of the few 24-hour gas stations on the drive.  Thick fog banks along the route made for a stressful drive.  The sky finally began to lighten as I neared my destination.  A few minutes from the trailhead I broke free of the fog to see it settled in the valley in front of me as the rising sun colored the sky.

I arrived at the trailhead a few minutes later and began a short walk through the woods.  At Rushford Road I began a long five-mile road walk.  After finally finishing the road walk I took a short break before heading on.  Another short walk through the woods and I arrived at West Branch Road for another road-walk.  A short “jog” off Stebbins Road gave a brief respite from the road-walking.  I arrived at my turn-around and started back.  A stop for lunch and a rest at a tent site off West Branch Road before heading back to Huyck Road and the long road-walk.

Finally back at the trailhead on Rushford Road I took a short break.  A little over a mile back to my car and my mind began to play the “what-if” game; I wondered if I had left a map light on in my car and if the battery was dead.  I arrived back at my car to find I had not left the light on and the batter was not dead.  After changing and stowing my gear I headed back on the long drive home.