EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING -- APRIL 2016

EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING – APRIL 2016

Donald A. Windsor

The best way to explore Chenango County is to walk it. I lead hikes every Sunday morning, year around, for the Bullthistle Hiking Club and report them on our Yahoo group site. Here are my reports for April 2016.

3 April 2016 – Whaupaunaucau State Forest, North Norwich

A nasty forecast turned out to be accurate and, as a result, we had only 4 hikers on Sunday 3 April 2016: Anne Altshuler, Joyce Mosher, John Nesbitt, and Don Windsor. We went to the Whaupaunaucau State Forest in North Norwich and covered 3.5 miles in 3.1 hours for a speed of 1.1 miles per hour.

We parked at the lower gate and hiked up Post Road to Jeffrey Pond, where we searched for Daphne in bloom. Finding none, we continued up Trail 4 to Forest Road, where we headed southerly to Trail 8 and then on the upper Forest Road. We ambled southerly on that to Trail 13 and took our well-deserved break in Clements' leanto. As we dined, the snow fell and the scene resembled a normal winter (finally!). We then hiked Trail 13 south to Trail 15 and took it to Trail 17 and took it to Trail 20 and back to our car.

A perfect day for a winter hike is temperatures in the mid twenties with alternating glorious sunshine and gloomy snowstorms. Today was such a day, a beautiful way to end a winter that was stingy with snow.

10 April 2016 – Genegantslet State Forest, Smithville

Nothing else makes me feel the magic arrival of spring than taking a leek in the snowy woods. On Sunday 10 April 2016 we had 15 hikers in the Genegantslet State Forest in Smithville: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, John Briglin, Bruce Coon, Peg Fuller, Joe Jackson, Sue McIntyre, Joyce Mosher, John Nesbitt, Joyce Post, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, Carol Smith, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 5.1 miles in 3.1 hours for a speed of 1.6 miles per hour. Our vertical ascent was 965 feet.

We parked in the DEC lot along State Route 220 by the Genegantslet Creek and Art Lake Road and ambled east up Art Lake to the Perkins Cemetery, where we paid our respects. We the continued east to the state boundary and followed the yellow blazes south to Stone Quarry Hill Road. We then took that road west to a two-story log cabin, where we took our well-deserved break. We admired the splendid stone work in a deep dug-well. We then got on a snowmobile trail and headed northeasterly to Art Lake Road and then west to our cars.

In spite of the recent cold, the fragrant green leaves of the leeks were abundant along the snowmobile trail. The recent logging left the trail a mud hole, but we saw over 3 dozen clumps of salamander eggs in the puddles. The increased sunlight due to logging will make this a wildflower extravaganza in May. Disturbance enhances biodiversity, indeed.

17 April 2016 – Melondy State Forest, Afton

On a glorious Sunday morning 17 April 2016, we had 5 hikers in the Melondy State Forest in Afton: Joe Angelino, Peg Fuller, Joyce Mosher, May Ann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 3.6 miles in 2.9 hours for a speed of 1.2 miles per hour. Vertical ascent was 496 feet.

We parked on the Truck Trail about 1.5 miles easterly of Melondy Hill Road and then hiked northerly on the rebuilt logging trail, veering to the east and then taking an old ATV trail to the northwest and the DEC northern boundary. We then bushwhacked east to the stone pile site, where we took a refreshing break. Afterward, we examined the individual stone piles. We returned via an unnamed brook and backtracked to our car. We did pause to checkout a barn and a house foundation, and a spring.

The stone piles are still present, but the adjacent private land is being logged. While no state trees have been cut down yet, some of the stone piles could well be on private land and are being ruined in the process (see attached photo). While the DEC yellow blazes are clearly visible I am not sure where the actual survey lines are.

24 April 2016 – FLT, Oxford + Smithville

A nice, sunny mid spring hike on Sunday morning 24 April 2016 had 8 hikers on the FLT doing a quasi-loop in Oxford and Smithville: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, John Carhart, Warren Johnsen, Joyce Post, Sharron Sandberg, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered at least 7.1 miles in 4.7 hours for a speed of 1.5 miles per hour.

We were warned about the logging and so it was no surprise. What did surprise me was the demolition of the mysterious stone encased mounds. This was a harsh reminder that the wanton destruction of historical remains is not limited to the radical middle east terrorists. It occurs right here locally.

We parked on Fred Wilcox Road by the FLT trailhead and walked down Winner Road southerly to Buckley Hollow. We paused to observe a large dead beaver and then took the FLT easterly through the logging area and beyond. We did not reach State Route 12 because another operation was in progress. We took our well-deserved break and then went back west. This time south and uphill of the logging. We paused to marvel at the numerous rectangular rock blocks. We picked up a fresh, muddy logging trail and took it back to the unlogged FLT and Buckley Hollow. When then hiked the FLT northerly and upwardly to our cars.

The unlogged portions of the FLT were in good shape. In accordance with our regular practice, we flicked deadfall off the trail. There are some large fallen (not cut) trees which will need a chainsaw to remove.

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EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING -- MARCH 2016

EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING – MARCH 2016

Donald A. Windsor

The best way to explore Chenango County is to walk it. I lead hikes every Sunday morning, year around, for the Bullthistle Hiking Club and report them on our Yahoo group site. Here are my reports for March 2016.

6 March 2016 – Pitcher Springs State Forest, Pitcher

What a grueling hike! After a post-hike, 45-minute well-deserved power nap, I stood up, and could hardly walk.

On a glorious Sunday morning, 6 March 2016, we had 10 hikers in the Pitcher Springs State Forest: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, John Briglin, John Carhart, Peg Fuller, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, Carol Smith, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 6.0 miles in 4.4 hours for a speed of 1.4 miles per hour. Vertical ascent was 1160 feet.

We parked at the intersection of Kinney and Hakes-Calhoun-Davis roads and hiked west on Hakes. We paused at the Soper cemetery to pay our respects and then went northerly on a snowmobile trail. When that trail went east, we continued northward, following an old stone fence. At the northern border of state land we followed the DEC blazes west, then south, then west, and then north. We paused for a well-deserved break and then continued following the blazes west, observing the deep gorge as we bushwhacked. When the DEC blazes went south, so did we, up a very steep long hill. Upon reaching Hakes Road, we headed east to our cars.

This hike involved trudging through snow-covered hemlock swamps and crossing several streams. We encountered the frozen, partially eaten corpse of an unfortunate coyote. The sun was shining; the sky was bright blue, the snow cover was brilliant white, and the hike was quite pleasant. I had never hiked in this area before and I certainly intend to do it again.

13 March 2016 – 5-Streams State Forest, German

A very interesting hike on Sunday morning 13 March 2016 when we had 9 hikers bushwhacking in the woods around Rabbit Path Road and Shingle Street in German: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, John Briglin, John Carhart, Bruce Coon, Joyce Post, Sharron Sandberg, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 5.7 miles in 4.0 hours for a speed of 1.4 miles per hour. Vertical ascent was 825 feet.

We parked on Hollow Road and hiked northerly on Rabbit Path Road to the state land. We then turned northwest on a grassy road to an old stone foundation and along “roads” in the forest. We bushwhacked northerly to Shingle Street and took our well-deserved break. Refreshed, we followed Shingle Street easterly past Rabbit Path to a large beaver pond/meadow. After observing thousands of snow fleas in the water flowing on the “street”, we turned back west and took the snowmobile trail southerly to the mysterious stone structure. We then followed the DEC blazes west to Rabbit Path Road and took it southerly to our cars.

We did find at least 5 stone piles. We found a huge burl on a black cherry tree and a small one on a beech. On the east side of Rabbit Path we encountered the carcasses of a dead mother coyote with her fetus and 4 skinned beavers. This was a grisly sight, but a good way to recycle flesh and bone.

20 March 2016 – Ludlow Creek State Forest, Smithville

A very productive hike on Sunday morning 20 March 2016 had 14 hikers: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, John Briglin, John Carhart, Bruce Coon, Steve Ellsworth, Peg Fuller, Joyce Mosher, Joyce Post, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, Carol Smith, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 5.9 miles in 5.1hours for a speed of 1.2 miles per hour. Vertical ascent was 1225 feet.

We parked at the FLT trailhead on Stone Quarry Hill Road, on the lawn of our gracious benefactor, and hiked northerly on the FLT. Upon reaching the DEC boundary, we hiked east following the yellow blazes until we reached the Ludlow Creek. Whereupon we took our first well-deserved break among the huge rock outcroppings. Refreshed, we followed the Ludlow northwesterly looking for stone piles. We found 14 (one for each hiker). When the Ludlow reached the FLT at the leanto, we took our second well-deserved hike. We then ambled along the FLT southeasterly to our vehicles.

Just after we started hiking, two young wild tom turkeys came over to us and strutted. I have never been this close to wild turkeys. I suspect someone is feeding them. This was a rough hike and I was tired after. However, no power nap because of interfering duties. Bushwhacking requires the use of muscles that ordinary hiking does not. Exactly which ones will be apparent tomorrow morning. Finding these stone piles was a real delight. This area was logged and the loggers did a great job avoiding the piles. See photos.  

27 March 2016 – Coventry State Forest, Coventry

A glorious Easter Sunday morning on 27 March 2016 had 10 hikers in the Coventry State Forest, mostly in the Oxford portion: Anne Altshuler, Bruce Coon, Peg Fuller, Joe Jackson, Warren Johnsen, Joyce Post, Carol Smith, Dale Utter, Tina Utter, and Don Windsor. We covered 3.7 miles in 4.2 hours for a speed of 0.9 miles per hour.

We parked on North Road, just south of Dunn Road, by the DEC kiosk. The handicapped trail we intended to take was obliterated by logging. The most logs I have ever seen in one place are neatly stacked in multiple massive stashes. Undaunted, we hiked northeasterly through the logged forest, taking advantage of the soft muddy ruts. The widespread, deep upheaval of the logged plantation floor and the opening of its canopy should result in a vigorous surge of biodiversity.

Upon reaching the northern border, we followed the DEC boundary east to a bright yellow corner stone and then followed the DEC blazes north to Brown Road. We took our well-deserved break and then bushwhacked southwesterly through a large spruce plantation to the same DEC boundary we came on and backtracked to our cars.

After our hike, we drove to the nearby cemetery in Coventryville to view some gravestones carved by the famous Coffinman. We were guided by Dale and Tina Utter, notable experts on old cemeteries. They are in the attached photo with the historical marker they recently obtained with a grant. Tina's book, Meet Me In Heaven, is a collection of epitaphs from local cemeteries.

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EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING -- FEBRUARY 2016

EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING – FEBRUARY 2016

Donald A. Windsor

The best way to explore Chenango County is to walk it. I lead hikes every Sunday morning, year around, for the Bullthistle Hiking Club and report them on our Yahoo group site. Here are my reports for February 2016.

7 February 2016 – Skinner Hill State Forest, Columbus + New Berlin

A bright, sunny, springlike morning on Sunday 7 February 2016 had 11 hikers in the Skinner Hill State Forest in New Berlin and barely into Columbus: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, Kathleen Byers, John Carhart, Bruce Coon, Joyce Mosher, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, Carol Smith, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered at least 4 miles in 3.7 hours for a speed of 1.1 miles per hour.

We parked on Dilley Hill Road north of County Road 29 in New Berlin and bushwhacked easterly to the unnamed creek. We followed the creek upstream to the DEC border and followed the border north to Schmidt Road on the boundary with Columbus. We paused for a well-deserved break and then turned southerly on a plantation road. I was unaware that this road existed, but it is an excellent hiking trail. When the road ended, we continued southerly until we encountered a beautiful gorge. This was a surprise because it is not evident from the 1943 topo map.

Puzzled, afterward I looked at the 1910 topo map and, sure enough, the gorge is indicated. The contour lines are at different levels on the two maps and do not jibe. A caution for those who rely on the 1943 era maps, the ones that GPS programs use.

14 February 2016 – No hike. No one showed up.

21 February 2016 – FLT, McDonough

A dreary, unseasonably warm Sunday morning, 21 February 2016, had 18 hikers on the FLT loop from East McDonough south: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, Kathleen Byers, John Carhart, Bruce Coon, Cathy Cruz, Karen Ellsworth, Noah Ellsworth, Richard Ellsworth, Steve Ellsworth, Peg Fuller, Joyce Mosher, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, Carol Smith, Sharon Valentine, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 6.0 miles in 3.3hours for a speed of 1.8 miles per hour. Vertical ascent was 800 feet.

We parked 7 cars at the Outpost in East McDonough and hiked south on Corbin Road to Hoben Road, where we went west to the FLT trailhead. We then hiked the FLT northerly back to our cars. The FLT was in good shape and we flicked deadfall off as we hiked. A few larger trees are down across the trail and will have to be sawed.

We paid our respects at the Corbin and the Moore cemeteries and paused for a group photo at the former Rucker farm.

28 February 2016 – Forty Brook, Five-Streams State Forest, German

Late winter? Or early spring? Who cares? It was so nice to be in the sunny woods with no wind and just enough snow to decorate our hike. On Sunday 28 February 2016 we had 9 hikers bushwhacking along the Forty Brook in the Five-Streams State Forest in German: Anne Altshuler, John Briglin, Sheila Briglin, Bruce Coon, Peg Fuller, Joyce Mosher, Carol Smith, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 3.0 miles in 2.8 hours for a speed of 1.1 miles per hour.

Why so slow? Bushwhacking through hemlock swamps, crossing streams, and enjoying the sights takes time. We found a large grove of very old white ash trees, age indicated by their senescent bark. We encountered a strange stone formation that may have been a maple sap evaporator or an ash processor. Best of all, we discovered the remains of an old stone dam.

We parked on Town Line Road by the power lines and walked west along the corridor. We veered southwesterly into the woods and then followed Forty Brook south. This stream is multi-braided at several places. At the end of state land we took the DEC blazes west, crossing over the Brook and turning north with the blazes. When the blazes headed west, we took a well-deserved break and then followed them west to Skillman Road. On the way, Carol spotted the hole of an old spile in a dead sugar maple. We took Skillman north to the power lines and then along their corridor east to our cars.

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EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING - JANUARY 2016

EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING – JANUARY 2016

Donald A. Windsor

The best way to explore Chenango County is to walk it. I lead hikes every Sunday morning, year around, for the Bullthistle Hiking Club and report them on our Yahoo group site. Here are my reports for January 2016.

1 January 2016 – Friday New Years Day – Norwich Greenway

First hike on the first day of the new year had 9 hikers on the Norwich Greenway (Notice that 2016 adds up to 9.): Anne Altshuler, John Carhart, Doona Coon, Peg Fuller, John Nesbitt, Carol Smith, Allan Strong, Jim White, and Don Windsor. We hiked 2.9 miles in 1.8 hours for a speed of 1.6 miles per hour.

We parked in the spacious lot by the Rexford Street bridge and hiked west on Rexford. We turned north on the O&W railway and then west on Borden Avenue. We went north through Weiler Park and east on Magistro Drive to the City Wells. Whereupon we took the Greenway northwesterly to its end on the NY&S railroad tracks. We then backtracked, taking the O&W railbed south to Rexford and east to our cars. We noted historical sites along the way but did not take a well-deserved break, because, well, we did not deserve one.

3 January 2016 – FLT, McDonough

When you are correctly dressed for the weather, even a dark, gloomy, woods, with snow falling, can feel cozy. Such was the case on Sunday morning 3 January 2016 when 5 hikers trekked on the FLT in the McDonough State Forest: Anne Altshuler, John Carhart, Peg Fuller, Dominic Shea, and Don Windsor. We covered 5.2 miles in 3.0 hours for a speed of 1.7 miles per hour. Vertical ascent was 416 feet.

We parked on Tower Road by the road to the Berry Hill tower and hiked south on Tower Road to the FLT trailhead. We then followed the FLT southwesterly to Gale Road, where we took a well deserved break. We then continued on Gale north to Preston Road and hiked that east to Tower Road and then North to our cars.

Near Galeville, we moseyed over to inspect the berm of an old man-made pond once used to by a steam sawmill. It was nicely highlighted by the light cover of snow. We did our good deed by unplugging a stuffed up culvert that was flooding Preston Road.

10 January 2016 – No Hike

Mercifully, no one showed up for my hike on Sunday morning 10 January 2016. It was raining heavily and the weather map showed a persistent splotch of more to come.

17 January 2016 – CCC Camp Loop, McDonough State Forest

A dull but pleasant Sunday morning on 17 January 2016 had 8 hikers in the McDonough State Forest: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, John Carhart, Peg Fuller, Joyce Post, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, and Don Windsor. We covered 6.3 miles in 3.3 hours for a speed of 1.9 miles per hour. Vertical ascent was 690 feet.

We parked at the former CCC Camp M-68 on State Route 220 and walked northwesterly on an abandoned road to Butler Road where we went northeasterly to Bliven-Sherman Road. We took that east to an old foundation downhill from Whaley Road and cut northerly into the woods. We then bushwhacked northerly to Whaley Road and took our well-deserved break.

Refreshed, we continued onward to Whaley Pond. After a brief interlude of admiring the frozen pond we turned back and took Whaley Road to Bliven-Sherman. We then headed west and veered off on CCC Road to our cars.

This was a splendid morning for bushwhacking. The snow was only an inch or two deep so the terrain features were nicely visible. No wind and barely below freezing temperatures allowed mud to remain frozen while we stayed warm.

24 January 2016 – Ambler State Forest, New Berlin

So what's not to like about winter? If every winter morning were as glorious as the morning of Sunday 24 January 2016, nothing! Such a morn hosted 10 hikers in the Ambler State Forest in New Berlin: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, John Carhart, Bruce Coon, Peg Fuller, Joyce Mosher, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, Carol Smith, and Don Windsor. We hiked 3.9 miles in 3.2 hours for a speed of 1.2 miles per hour. Vertical ascent was 710 feet.

We parked at the kiosk on Pat Farley Road and walked the Truck Trail, pausing to note a cistern and to visit an old farmhouse foundation. We also veered off through a quarry and climbed around some bedrock outcrops. Some of these rock formations were big enough to accommodate a person (see photo). Art noticed porcupine tracks so we examined their den. We then checked the view scape at the wet field overlooking Route 23. We continued on to the Turnaround where we took a well deserved break. Refreshed, we bushwhacked up a high hill and down over to the Truck Trail and back to our cars. Sightseeing and bushwhacking take time, thus our slow speed.

31 January 2016 – Indian Tree Loop, Smithville

A mild Sunday morning 31 January 2016 in Smithville had 11 hikers in the Ludlow Creek State Forest doing a loop to visit our best local “Indian” tree: Anne Altshuler, Joe Angelino, John Carhart, Noah Ellsworth, Richard Ellsworth, Steve Ellsworth, Peg Fuller, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, Carol Smith, and Don Windsor. We covered 4.1 miles in 3.0 hours for a speed of 1.4 miles per hour.

We parked on Engaard Road at the Truck Trail and bushwhacked the DEC boundary west to Hammerle Road. We then took Hammerle north to the public spring and then to the “Indian” tree. However, I doubt it, because the Indians left here around 1800, so that tree would have to be over 200 years old.

However, the horizontal part of that tree runs parallel with Hammerle Road, so it looks like it was intentionally placed as a marker. I suspect it was developed by a Euro-American and not a Native-American.

See group photo by John Carhart and by Peg Fuller. We continued north past Tucker Road to the unnamed creek and took a well-deserved break amongst the stone foundations on a knoll. We then bushwhacked southeasterly across what was a Trotting Course in 1875 to Tucker. Whereupon we hiked east to Engaard and south to our cars. Snow cover was 1 to 2 inches in the woods.

After the hike some of us went to Steve's Hammerle Hill Hop Farm to see his support poles and wires, a very interesting excursion indeed.

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STONE PILES IN CHENANGO COUNTY

Stone Piles in Chenango County

My article,

Windsor, Donald A. Stone Piles in Chenango County. Archives of the SciAesthetics Institute 2000 December; 1(2): 33-50

is now available online in a PDF format. It is too long (18 pages) to fit on this blog, but if you want a copy, send me an email request and I will send you one as an attachment.

windsorda@yahoo.com

Fifteen years have elapsed since this article was published and it needs an update. I intend to (someday). I wrote it to assemble every explanation, known by me at the time, for why stone piles were built. I have since found more sites, about twice as many.

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