Untitled document

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1 Don't just let yourself be dragged into the New Year. Be proactive. Begin 2012 by aggressively hiking into it! On Sunday morning, 1 January 2012, we will be hiking in the Perkins Pond State Forest in Pharsalia, between Center Road and Northwest Corners at County Road 42. We will check out an abandoned road and bushwhack our way into some places I have never been. About 5 miles or so. Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00. To meet elsewhere contact me at 607-336-4628 or windsorda@yahoo.com	2	3 Hike #1 on Tues. 1-3-2012 will be a make-up of a hike John missed on 5-9-11. We will start at Dublin Rd. (Map-M-22), between So. Otselic and DeRuyter, and will hike to Ratville Rd. about 5.4 mi. We will meet at Ho-Jo's at 9:00 AM (note later time), also weather report is for very cold and blustery. Let John 518-396-9359 or myself via this e-mail site if you plan to join us.	4	5 Hike#2 will continue us westward on our E-to-E journey in Tompkins County south of Ithaca. We will hike on Maps M-17 and M-18, as we'll finish up M-18 with this hike. We will start at S. Danby Rd.(M-17) and hike to Coddington Rd. (M-18) a total distance of 7.3 mi. There appears to be a couple of significant "elevation changes", (a nice way of saying it isn't a level easy hike.) We will meet at Ho-Jo's at 8:00 AM (SNB Library at 7:45), please let John or I know if you'll be joining us.	6	7
8. This Sunday morning, 8 January 2012, we will explore a vast area within the Bucks Brook State Forest in Otselic, between Ridge Road and Seventh Day Hollow. The Hollow is where the FLT crosses State Route 26. We will not be on the FLT but instead we will bushwhack. Why? Because I have never been in this area and chances are that you have not been either. Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00. Contact me to meet elsewhere: windsorda@yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.	9	10	11	12 FLEET Group hike for today is cancelled. Raw and rainy conditions does not lend itself to enjoyable hiking. This week's FLEET Group Hike is scheduled for Thurs. 1-12-12. The weather report is not too promising, but this is the only day that works this week for the majority of our regulars. We will hike again on Map M-17 between Ithaca and Candor. We'll hike 6.4 mi. from Comfort Rd. to Fisher Settlement Rd. A road walk begins the hike, (good warmup) and varied terrain which has no major climbs and drops. As soon as I say that I'll likely be proven wrong. Regardless that's the plan. The weather could disrupt things as we will not venture out for a 1 1/2 hr. drive on treacherous roads. A decision of No or Go will be made early AM on Thurs. Please let John 518-396-9359 or myself know if you will be joining us. We'll meet at Ho-Jo's in Norwich at 8:00, at the SNB Library at 7:45.	13	14 The 2012 Howard Beye Hike will be on SATURDAY, January 14, 2012. This will be a winter hike/snowshoe on the Bristol Hills Trail, FLT Map B2. This Saturday is the annual Howard Beye hike, held this year on the Bristol Hills Trail through Italy Hill State Forest (Map B2). We will meet for a 10:30 departure from the end of DeWolf Road, near access point 7 on map B2. You will see on the map there is a parking area at Access 7 on Brink Hill Road -- please drive beyond that, turning right onto DeWolf - the road dead ends and we will park there to avoid a long, uphill road walk. I will be staging cars at the parking area on Pulver Road to transport us back to our starting point when we are done hiking. The hike from the end of DeWolf to the parking area on Pulver Road is approximately 7 miles. Please RSVP to me if you are interested by January 12 so I can plan the car shuttle appropriately. Please pack a lunch and plenty of water and dress in layers. Bring waterproof gear (pants, shell/jacket). Cate Concannon
15 Abandoned roads can be good hiking trails. Let's see if the one for this Sunday is. On 15 January 2012, we will explore the abandoned road that once extended Tucker Road west to Weldon Road. It is a dotted line on the Tyner topo. It crossed over 4 streams, which is probably why it was abandoned. This area nestles within the inscrutable Ludlow Creek State forest in Smithville. The stone fence along this road features a delightful interplay of large and small stones. We should cover around 5 miles and will likely do some bushwhacking. Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00 or at the Dollar Store in Oxford at 08:20. To meet elsewhere contact me at windsorda@yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.	16	17	18	19 This week's FLEET Group hike will be Thurs. 1-19-12. The plan is to do last week's scheduled hike in Tompkins County of 6+ miles. Of course weather, (snow depth or ice) may change our destination. Weather forecast is for mid-20's and light snow, so hiking conditions should be good, it's just a matter of where they will be good. A decision will be made by Wed. as to where we will hike. A little sidelight info- in 2011 there were 39 FLEET Group hikes, totaling 233.3 miles hiked, (most but not all on the FLT), total number of hikers 228 , at least 25-30 different faces from time-to-time joined us. The Bullthistle Hikers in total led 99 hikes, including FLEET, Sunday BHC and a couple of weekday (51), 2-Sidote, and 7- FLT Fall Weekend hikes. Hike leaders spent 309 hrs. leading hikes. Our work hours on the FLT as trail maintainers far exceeded this number. Impressive volunteer numbers.	20	21
22 If we do not go to East German, who will? Probably nobody. Because there is no longer anything there. Besides, no one else (except a few couch potatoes) knows where it is. We will hike around 5 miles, seldom driven or seasonal roads plus the inevitable bushwhacking. Where exactly we park depends on roadside conditions and how many cars. Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00. To meet elsewhere contact me at yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.	23	24	25	26 This week's FLEET Group hike will be Thurs. 1-26-12. We will be finishing up Map M-17 south of Ithaca, hiking from Comfort Rd. north to the point where the FLT crosses Rtes 13, 34 and 96. That is the plan, always subject to change or disruption. According to the most recent FLT info this is now a hike of 6+ miles, generally a gradual downhill, starting at about 1450' elev. and ending a thousand feet lower. Hopefully correct. If you'd like to join us contact myself or John Elia, we'll meet behind Ho-Jo's in Norwich at 8:00 AM	27	28
29 This hike was previously announced but was postponed due to snowy roads. We will try it again. On 29 January 2012, we will explore the abandoned road that once extended Tucker Road west to Weldon Road. It is a dotted line on the Tyner topo. It crossed over 4 streams, which is probably why it was abandoned. This area nestles within the inscrutable Ludlow Creek State forest in Smithville. The stone fence along this road features a delightful interplay of large and small stones. We should cover around 5 miles and will likely do some bushwhacking. Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00 or at the Dollar Store in Oxford at 08:20. To meet elsewhere contact me at windsorda@yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.	30	31

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1
Don't just let yourself be dragged into the New Year. Be proactive. Begin 2012 by aggressively hiking into it!

On Sunday morning, 1 January 2012, we will be hiking in the Perkins Pond State Forest in Pharsalia, between Center Road and Northwest Corners at County Road 42. We will check out an abandoned road and bushwhack our way into some places I have never been. About 5 miles or so. Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00. To meet elsewhere contact me at 607-336-4628 or windsorda@yahoo.com

3

Hike #1 on Tues. 1-3-2012 will be a make-up of a hike John missed on 5-9-11. We will start at Dublin Rd. (Map-M-22), between So. Otselic and DeRuyter, and will hike to Ratville Rd. about 5.4 mi. We will meet at Ho-Jo's at 9:00 AM (note later time), also weather report is for very cold and blustery. Let John 518-396-9359 or myself via this e-mail site if you plan to join us.

5

Hike#2 will continue us westward on our E-to-E journey in Tompkins County south of Ithaca. We will hike on Maps M-17 and M-18, as we'll finish up M-18 with this hike. We will start at S. Danby Rd.(M-17) and hike to Coddington Rd. (M-18) a total distance of 7.3 mi. There appears to be a couple of significant "elevation changes", (a nice way of saying it isn't a level easy hike.) We will meet at Ho-Jo's at 8:00 AM (SNB Library at 7:45), please let John or I know if you'll be joining us.

This Sunday morning, 8 January 2012, we will explore a vast area within the Bucks Brook State Forest in Otselic, between Ridge Road and Seventh Day Hollow. The Hollow is where the FLT crosses State Route 26. We will not be on the FLT but instead we will bushwhack. Why? Because I have never been in this area and chances are that you have not been either.

Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00. Contact me to meet elsewhere: windsorda@yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.

FLEET Group hike for today is cancelled. Raw and rainy conditions does not lend itself to enjoyable hiking.

This week's FLEET Group Hike is scheduled for Thurs. 1-12-12. The weather report is not too promising, but this is the only day that works this week for the majority of our regulars.

We will hike again on Map M-17 between Ithaca and Candor. We'll hike 6.4 mi. from Comfort Rd. to Fisher Settlement Rd. A road walk begins the hike, (good warmup) and varied terrain which has no major climbs and drops. As soon as I say that I'll likely be proven wrong. Regardless that's the plan. The weather could disrupt things as we will not venture out for a 1 1/2 hr. drive on treacherous roads. A decision of No or Go will be made early AM on Thurs. Please let John 518-396-9359 or myself know if you will be joining us. We'll meet at Ho-Jo's in Norwich at 8:00, at the SNB Library at 7:45.

The 2012 Howard Beye Hike will be on SATURDAY, January 14, 2012. This will be a winter hike/snowshoe on the Bristol Hills Trail, FLT Map B2.

This Saturday is the annual Howard Beye hike, held this year on the Bristol Hills Trail through Italy Hill State Forest (Map B2).

We will meet for a 10:30 departure from the end of DeWolf Road, near access point 7 on map B2. You will see on the map there is a parking area at Access 7 on Brink Hill Road -- please drive beyond that, turning right onto DeWolf - the road dead ends and we will park there to avoid a long, uphill road walk. I will be staging cars at the parking area on Pulver Road to transport us back to our starting point when we are done hiking. The hike from the end of DeWolf to the parking area on Pulver Road is approximately 7 miles. Please RSVP to me if you are interested by January 12 so I can plan the car shuttle appropriately.

Please pack a lunch and plenty of water and dress in layers. Bring waterproof gear (pants, shell/jacket).

Cate Concannon

15
Abandoned roads can be good hiking trails. Let's see if the one for this Sunday is.

On 15 January 2012, we will explore the abandoned road that once extended Tucker Road west to Weldon Road. It is a dotted line on the Tyner topo. It crossed over 4 streams, which is probably why it was abandoned.

This area nestles within the inscrutable Ludlow Creek State forest in Smithville. The stone fence along this road features a delightful interplay of large and small stones. We should cover around 5 miles and will likely do some bushwhacking.

Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00 or at the Dollar Store in Oxford at 08:20. To meet elsewhere contact me at windsorda@yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.

This week's FLEET Group hike will be Thurs. 1-19-12. The plan is to do last week's scheduled hike in Tompkins County of 6+ miles. Of course weather, (snow depth or ice) may change our destination. Weather forecast is for mid-20's and light snow, so hiking conditions should be good, it's just a matter of where they will be good. A decision will be made by Wed. as to where we will hike.

A little sidelight info- in 2011 there were 39 FLEET Group hikes, totaling 233.3 miles hiked, (most but not all on the FLT), total number of hikers 228 , at least 25-30 different faces from time-to-time joined us. The Bullthistle Hikers in total led 99 hikes, including FLEET, Sunday BHC and a couple of weekday (51), 2-Sidote, and 7- FLT Fall Weekend hikes. Hike leaders spent 309 hrs. leading hikes. Our work hours on the FLT as trail maintainers far exceeded this number. Impressive volunteer numbers.

22
If we do not go to East German, who will? Probably nobody. Because there is no longer anything there. Besides, no one else (except a few couch potatoes) knows where it is.

We will hike around 5 miles, seldom driven or seasonal roads plus the inevitable bushwhacking. Where exactly we park depends on roadside conditions and how many cars.

Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00. To meet elsewhere contact me at yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.

26
This week's FLEET Group hike will be Thurs. 1-26-12. We will be finishing up Map M-17 south of Ithaca, hiking from Comfort Rd. north to the point where the FLT crosses Rtes 13, 34 and 96. That is the plan, always subject to change or disruption. According to the most recent FLT info this is now a hike of 6+ miles, generally a gradual downhill, starting at about 1450' elev. and ending a thousand feet lower. Hopefully correct. If you'd like to join us contact myself or John Elia, we'll meet behind Ho-Jo's in Norwich at 8:00 AM

29
This hike was previously announced but was postponed due to snowy roads. We will try it again.

On 29 January 2012, we will explore the abandoned road that once extended Tucker Road west to Weldon Road. It is a dotted line on the Tyner topo. It crossed over 4 streams, which is probably why it was abandoned.

This area nestles within the inscrutable Ludlow Creek State forest in
Smithville. The stone fence along this road features a delightful interplay of large and small stones. We should cover around 5 miles and will likely do some bushwhacking.

Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00 or at the Dollar Store in Oxford at 08:20. To meet elsewhere contact me at windsorda@yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.

February 2012

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
			1	2 This week's FLEET Group hike will be on Thurs. 2-2-12. We'll celebrate a predicted warm and partially sunny "Groundhog Day" with a "close-to-home hike and a "cold one" to celebrate 6 more weeks of Winter. (Who'd really mind if it stays like this !!!). We'll hike on Map M-26 from Neff Hill Rd. west to Rte 206, then through Bainbridge to the west edge of the village. It's an approx. 5 mile hike with a little of everything, downhill, uphill, off-road, road walk, sidewalks etc. Lunch and beverages in Bainbridge when we finish. We'll meet at Ho-Jo's in Norwich at 8:00 AM, Rich Natoli will be there. I'll meet the group at 8:30 AM at McDonald's in Sidney, or meet me at 8:00 AM at the SNB Library. Please let me know if you plan to join us, (John is out of town), at this e-mail address or 607-859-2225.	3	4
5 Change of pace = less bushwhacking and more trails. Let us hike the FLT from Stewart and Hoag roads north, past Ed's Bench and through the recently cleared tornado blowdown. We will do a loop, returning via the Blue Trail. 6 miles, or so. Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00. Contact me to meet elsewhere: windsorda@yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.	6	7 Don't forget the BHC meeting this Tuesday, 7 Feb. at 7pm. The program for this meeting will be about the Northville - Lake Placid Trail. See description below: Title: Backpacking the historic Northville Placid Trail Local resident Dominic Shea and Bullthistle Hiking Club member will give a trip report of his backpacking tour of the Northville Placid Trail - rated one of Backpacker Magazines "Best. Hikes. Ever. (20 all time favorites)". Overview of the trip with pictures, gear used, and tips for how to do it yourself! Also, don't forget that membership renewals are due by Feb. 28th. Please plan to complete a new form and pay your dues at this meeting if you have not done so. I'm attaching a copy of the Membership form and we'll have some available at the meeting as well. The form is also in the Files section of the Yahoo site. The board will be meeting at 630pm to discuss the budget for 2012. All members are welcome to attend this meeting as well. Carol	8	9	10	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

2
This week's FLEET Group hike will be on Thurs. 2-2-12. We'll celebrate a predicted warm and partially sunny "Groundhog Day" with a "close-to-home hike and a "cold one" to celebrate 6 more weeks of Winter. (Who'd really mind if it stays like this !!!). We'll hike on Map M-26 from Neff Hill Rd. west to Rte 206, then through Bainbridge to the west edge of the village. It's an approx. 5 mile hike with a little of everything, downhill, uphill, off-road, road walk, sidewalks etc. Lunch and beverages in Bainbridge when we finish. We'll meet at Ho-Jo's in Norwich at 8:00 AM, Rich Natoli will be there. I'll meet the group at 8:30 AM at McDonald's in Sidney, or meet me at 8:00 AM at the SNB Library. Please let me know if you plan to join us, (John is out of town), at this e-mail address or 607-859-2225.

5

Change of pace = less bushwhacking and more trails. Let us hike the FLT from Stewart and Hoag roads north, past Ed's Bench and through the recently cleared tornado blowdown. We will do a loop, returning via the Blue Trail. 6 miles, or so. Meet in the lot behind HoJo in Norwich at 08:00. Contact me to meet elsewhere: windsorda@yahoo.com or 607-336-4628.

Don't forget the BHC meeting this Tuesday, 7 Feb. at 7pm. The program for this meeting will be about the Northville - Lake Placid Trail. See description below:

Title: Backpacking the historic Northville Placid Trail

Local resident Dominic Shea and Bullthistle Hiking Club member will give a trip report of his backpacking tour of the Northville Placid Trail - rated one of Backpacker Magazines "Best. Hikes. Ever. (20 all time favorites)". Overview of the trip with pictures, gear used, and tips for how to do it yourself!

Also, don't forget that membership renewals are due by Feb. 28th. Please plan to complete a new form and pay your dues at this meeting if you have not done so.
I'm attaching a copy of the Membership form and we'll have some available at the meeting as well. The form is also in the Files section of the Yahoo site.

The board will be meeting at 630pm to discuss the budget for 2012. All members are welcome to attend this meeting as well.

Carol

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

April 2012

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

The 2012 Wally Wood Hike will be on SATURDAY, April 14, 2012. The hike will be on the International Loop, Dryden/Cortland area, FLT Map M19.

Hike: The International Loop combines the Swedish Loop Trail (SwL), the Spanish Loop Trail (SpL), and portions of the "American" Finger Lakes Trail. The hike will start at the northern FLT trailhead on Daisy Hollow Road (see FLT Map M19).

After about a mile on the FLT, which traverses a spectacular hemlock forest with plenty of stream views, hikers will take the SwL, which continues in the hemlock forest but with a greater sense of remoteness. After the SwLsection ends at the FLT, hikers will begin the gradual climb of mighty Owego Hill using several long, gentle switchbacks.

Along the way, hikers will pass the International Mine, which is quite safe to explore and is marked by a red dot on one of the white blazes and a small cairn. A few steps uphill from the trail gets you to the very old mine opening.

Soon hikers will arrive at the SpL, which passes through a wonderful variety of terrain—including a Norway spruce forest, some lovely mossy springs, and an evergreen tree farm that is now going back to nature—before reconnecting with the FLT, which will lead hikers back to the loop's original starting point. The entire hike is approx 7 to 8 miles long.

Meet: 10:00 am at the FLT's "northern" trailhead on Daisy Hollow Road

Directions to Meeting Location: From either Ithaca or the Binghamton area take NY Route 38 to Daisy Hollow Rd, this intersection is approximately 5 miles south of Dryden, and just north of Harford. Turn onto Daisy Hollow Rd (in a northerly direction) for approx 3.5 miles till you reach the second ("northern") FLT trailhead, it is near Carpenter Hill Rd. GPS coordinates are N42 28.235, W76 13.880.

Leader: Phil Dankert, pdankert@twcny.rr.com

Prior Wally Wood Hikes

Wally Wood Hike - April 23, 2011

Wally Wood Hike - April 24, 2010

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

February 2012

March 2012

April 2012

Hikes & Events – 2011-12

Howard Beye Hike - Jan-14, 2012

Wally Wood Hike - Apr-14, 2012

2012 Spring Weekend - June 15-17, 2012

Ed Sidote Hike - 2012

Fall Campout - 2012

Erv Markert Hike - 2012

Prior Wally Wood Hikes

Wally Wood Hike - April 23, 2011

Wally Wood Hike - April 24, 2010

May 2012