EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING -- AUGUST 2016

EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING – AUGUST 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, BullthistleHikers, where the many photos posted by our hikers can be viewed. Here are my reports for August 2016.

7 August 2016 – Charels E. Baker State Forest, Columbus and Brookfield

Baker State Forest covers 9414 acres of woods punctuated by ponds, laced by streams, and knit together by several miles of horse/hiking trails. On Sunday morning 7 August 2016 we had 9 hikers in the southeastern chunk: Anne Altshuler, John Carhart, Warren Johnsen, Joyce Post, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, Carol Smith, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered about 5 miles in 3.5 hours for a speed of 1.4 miles per hour.

We parked in the lot on County Road 24 (=Shawler Brook Road) and hiked northerly to TT-1. We then trekked on T-17 to T-16 to Morrow Road, where we enjoyed our well-deserved break. Refreshed, we embarked easterly up a hill on what appeared to be an unmarked logging trail, but turned into a bushwhack through a horrific stand of vigorous blackberry canes growing up through the very coarse woody debris of cut off tree tops. In here I suffered a painful fall when a log I was clambering over suddenly snapped and I landed on more large branches. Score was now bush = 1, bushwhacker = 0.

We continued stumbling through until we reached T-15 and took it south and west to Morrow Road. We then went south to T-14 (=Pope Hill Road) back to our cars, posing for some group photos at the new kiosk and sign.

14 August 2016 – Beaver Meadow State Forest, Smyrna

The Beaver Meadow State Forest in Smyrna on Sunday morning 14 August 2016 was soaked from the storm the previous evening. Nevertheless, we had 4 hikers: Anne Altshuler, John Carhart, Peg Fuller, and Don Windsor. We covered 6.8 miles in 3.6 hours for a speed of 1.9 miles per hour. Our elevation gain was 1071 feet.

We parked in the quarry on Bliven-Coye Hill Road, east of Boos-Law Road, and hiked westerly to the state land. We then took the abandoned road, now snowmobile trail, south to George Crumb Road. We hike that west, but saw a lot of activity at the Y camp, so we took our well-deserved break on George Crumb and then took it northeasterly to our cars.

Rain held off until after our hike and the woods seemed almost bug free. Mud puddles were ample but not too daunting. Actually, it was a rather pleasant hike.

21 August 2016 – Pitcher Springs State Forest

A nice, bright Sunday morning 21 August 2016 progressively deteriorated into a gloomy, rainy one as 8 hikers ambled through the Pitcher Springs State Forest: Anne Altshuler, John Carhart, Peg Fuller, Tess O'Brien, Joyce Post, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, and Don Windsor. We covered 5.9 miles in 2.9 hours for a speed of 2.0 miles per hour.

We parked on Calhoun-Davis Road, just east of Kinney Road, and hiked west, pausing to pay our respects at the Soper Cemetery. Upon spotting an inviting snowmobile trail on the south side of C-D road, we yielded to the urge and took it. Good choice, because it was a dandy hiking trail. It veered southerly and then easterly and then formed a loop with the trail we had been on. We then returned to C-D and took it east to our cars.

The easterly snowmobile trek was on an old abandoned town road that once stretched between Mott Cook Road and Kostenko-Sutton Road. It appears as a dotted line on the 1944 topo map. We will investigate this stretch the next time we hike here, because it might afford a splendid loop.

28 August 2016 – Genegantslet State Forest, Smithville

A cool morning became hot as the sun beat down on 6 hikers in the Genegantslet State Forest in Smithville on Sunday 28 August 2016: Anne Altshuler, John Carhart, Joyce Post, Carol Smith, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 7.2 miles in 3.8 hours for a speed of 1.9 miles per hour.

We parked on Stone Quarry Hill Road near the snowmobile trail and hiked east to Waldon Road. Whereupon, we ambled up Waldon north to the second creek, pausing for our well-deserved break. We then backtracked on Waldon south to Art Lake Road and took that to the snowmobile trail. We then trekked back southerly to our cars, gingerly sidestepping the numerous pesky mud holes.

We paid our respects at two cemeteries, the Eddy west of Waldon and the Perkins south along Art Lake. A dead Star-nosed Mole on Waldon provided a splendid photo op and John Carhart's close ups of the star tentacles are thought provoking.

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MOST BEAUTIFUL STATUE IN CHENANANGO COUNTY

MOST BEAUTIFUL STATUE IN CHENANGO COUNTY

Donald A. Windsor

Could this stone angel be the most beautiful statue in Chenango County?

I think so.

It resides in the Chapel Cemetery on Cueball Road, just south of Wylie-Horton Road in the Town of Coventry.

However, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. So, if anyone thinks there is a more beautiful statue, send me a photo + info and I will post them on this blog.

windsorda@yahoo.com

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OAK-APPLE GALL

OAK-APPLE GALL

Donald A. Windsor

Oak-Apple Galls are formed by oak tree leaves under the control of the gall wasp Amphibolips confluentus, Family Cynipoidea. 

These two specimens were picked up under a Red Oak (Quercus rubra) in front of 51 Sheldon Street in the City of Norwich. I regret that I did not record the date, but it was the late spring or early summer of 2016.

The female wasp lays an egg on a leaf. The egg hatches into a larva that then feeds on the leaf, stimulating the leaf tissue to develop into a gall. The gall acts as a cocoon, protecting the larva as it pupates. When the pupa reaches adult stage, it breaks its way out of the gall.

Note the larval-pupal chamber suspended by fibers in the center of the opened gall.

Oak-Apple Galls have been found in several places in Chenango County.

Reference consulted:

Craighead, F.C. Leaf galls. In: Insect Enemies of Eastern Forests. Washington DC: US Department of Agriculture. Miscellaneous Publication Number 657. 1950. Pages 597-598.

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OLD CHERRY TREE IN MCDONOUGH

OLD CHERRY TREE IN MCDONOUGH

Donald A. Windsor

These photos were snapped on 17 July 2016.

Could this Black Cherry tree (Prunus serotina) be the oldest of its species in Chenango County? If not, please tell me about a competitor.

This specimen is along the Finger Lakes Trail in the McDonough State Forest, between Bliven-Sherman and Gale roads, about a stone's throw to the southeast. It is not readily noticeable; you have to look for it.

I first encountered this specimen back around 1997 and first photographed it for my article in The Evening Sun in 2002. Unfortunately, that photo is no longer available for reproduction here, but it does appear in the references below.

I identify with this gnarled old tree, because we are growing old together. Unfortunately, I suspect who will ultimately outlive whom.

References cited:

Windsor, Donald A. A gnarled survivor. The Evening Sun (Norwich, NY) 2002 April 15 Monday; 112(21): 17.

Windsor, Donald A. A gnarled survivor. In: Souvenirs of Yesteryear. Exploring Chenango County, New York. Norwich, NY: Self published. 2008 December 5. Pages 12-13.

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POISON IVY -- THE LARGEST SPECIMEN IN CHENANGO COUNTY

POISON IVY – The largest specimen in Chenango County

Donald A. Windsor

The largest specimen of Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) that I have ever seen anywhere is growing right here in Chenango County. It is about 40 feet tall with a spread (drip line) of about 15 feet across. One of its lianas (woody vines that root in the ground and climb up a tree) is the size of my wrist (7 inches circumference, 2 ¼ inches diameter). The Poison Ivy is climbing up a White Pine (Pinus strobus) with two trunks. Next to it is another White Pine with its own Poison Ivy. I refrain from giving the exact location of these specimens out of fear that some misguided do-gooder may destroy them.

Searches in the surrounding area have not found any more plants. Searches will continue.

Here are some photos of this specimen. The winter shots were snapped on 9 November 2015. The summer ones were snapped on 5 August 2016. Anne Altshuler is in some of the photos pointing.

Leaves and berries. 

The trunks of the 2 White Pine hosts. The Poison Ivy branches appear to be growing out of the pine trunks.

The ivy growing up 40 feet.

Berries.

Lianas growing up the trunk.

Large liana with pine needles caught in its rootlets.

Large lianas. Note the crossing from one trunk to another.

References consulted:

Leopold, Donald J. ; McComb, William C. ; Muller, Robert N. Toxicodendron radicans. In: Trees of the Central Hardwood Forests on North America. An Identification and Cultivation Guide. Portland, OR: Timber Press. 1998. Page 420.

Symonds, George W. D. ; Merwin, A.W. Poison ivy Rhus radicans. In: The Shrub Identification Book. The Visual Method for the Practical Identification of Shrubs, Including Woody Vines and Ground Covers.. New York, NY: William Morrow & Co. 1963. Pages 240-243. Master Pages 74-77.

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EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING -- JULY 2016

EXPLORING CHENANGO COUNTY BY HIKING – JULY 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, BullthistleHikers, where the many photos posted by our hikers can be viewed. Here are my reports for July 2016.

3 July 2016 – Stonepiles along the Ludlow Creek, Smithville

On a cool, sunny Sunday morning, 2 July 2016, we had 6 hikers bushwhacking along the Ludlow Creek in Smithville: Peg Fuller, Charity Moore, Allan Strong, Maryann Weiss, Matthew Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 5.5 miles in 5.3 hours for a speed of 1.0 miles per hour. Our vertical ascent was 857 feet.

We parked on Tucker Road near Joscelyn Road and followed the DEC blazes south and then west. We crossed Ludlow Creek at the spectacular rock outcrops and ventured onto the high ground northwesterly to some stone piles. We paused for our well-deserved break and then bushwhacked northwesterly to the FLT leanto. We then took the FLT to the small stonepiles and then backtracked to Tucker Road. We then took Tucker east, back to our cars.

Matthew and Charity are both professional archaeologists from West Virginia, with an interest in stone piles, so it was enlightening to have them along. Stone pile sites extend from Ohio to the ocean and to Maine and Georgia. My botanical highlight was the superb growth of Angelica along Tucker Road.

10 July 2016 – Plank (Gorge) Road, Otselic and Pharsalia

Otselic did not get as much rain as Norwich, but the gorge was not dry either. On a cool, wet Sunday morning 10 July 2016 we had 8 hikers on the Plank Road into the gorge: John Carhart, Peg Fuller, John Nesbitt, Joyce Post, Art Sandberg, Sharron Sandberg, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We hiked 5.5 miles in 3.7 hours for a speed of 1.5 miles per hour. Vertical ascent was 826 feet.

We parked in the lot on Plank Road at County Road 42, across from Perkins Pond. We then hiked northwesterly on Plank Road down to the great washout, where it seemed prudent not to continue. We then backtracked to Purse Road and took that north. We paused for our well-deserved break and continued to Clarence Church Road, where we headed easterly. At the appropriate spot we took the shortcut to the Perkins leanto and then bushwhacked southwesterly to Plank Road and southerly to our cars.

It was very dark in the gorge, but very light at the leanto, as the photos indicate.

17 July 2016 – McDonough State Forest

Nice, comfortable Sunday morning to be outside as 8 hikers ambled around the outer boundaries of the Bowman Lake State Park in McDonough: Anne Altshuler, John Carhart, Joe Jackson, Joyce Post, Sharron Sandberg, Carol Smith, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor. We covered 5.3 miles in 3.0 hours for a speed of 1.8 miles per hour.

We parked at the FLT trailhead on Bliven Sherman Road and trekked easterly to Steere Road. We then took that road northerly to Preston Road, where we headed west to the abandoned Gale Road. Whereupon we then walked southerly to the foundations of Galeville for our well deserved break. Refreshed, we continued onward, past Bowman Lake, across Bliven-Sherman, and onto the maintained section of Gale Road. We picked up the FLT and trod northeasterly back to our cars.

On Steere Road we encountered a healthy stand of Sassafras trees, one about 30 feet tall with at least a couple dozen saplings. A large foundation was just north of the stand. The attached group photo shows our hikers backdropped by the Sassafras. Note the 3 different leaf forms: the fingerless mitten, the standard mitten, and the 2-thumbed mitten. We also found a large, about 26 inch across, Chicken-of-the-Woods mushroom in Galeville. We paid our respects at the Steere Cemetery and at the Gale Cemetery.

24 July 2016 – Buddhist Temple Loop, German and Smithville

Most fascinating hike ever! A Buddhist monk gave us a guided tour of the Palyul Temple in Smithville on Sunday morning 24 July 2016. Monk Tashi was indeed a wealth of information and a loquacious host. We asked him a lot of questions and he patiently answered them.

We 8 hikers (Anne Altshuler, Peg Fuller, John Nesbitt, Joyce Post, Sharron Sandberg, Robin Vanwagner, Maryann Weiss, and Don Windsor) covered 6.0 miles in 3.7 hours for a speed of 1.6 miles per hour.

We parked in German on Pucker Street between Burkholder and Cross roads and hiked southerly on Pucker. We paused briefly to view the regeneration after the forest fire on 7 May 2015. We continued to Hollow Road and took it southerly to the Buddhist Temple. After the tour we took our well-deserved break and backtracked to our cars.

This was a very enlightening and memorable hike.

31 July 2016 – Hunts Pond State Forest, New Berlin

A rainy Sunday morning, 31 July 2016, following a rainy hike yesterday, resulted in a low turn out. We had only 3 hikers in the Hunts Pond State Forest in New Berlin: Anne Altshuler, John Carhart, and Don Windsor. We covered 4.0 miles in 3.0 hours for a speed of 1.3 miles per hour.

We parked at the park entrance and hiked on the park road. At the south end we turned onto the snowmobile trail and went north to the northeastern corner boundary. We then bushwhacked south, trying to follow the elusive DEC border. Frustrated by the lack of blazes, we bushwhacked southwesterly back to the park road where we took a well-deserved break in the well-drenched woods. Refreshed, we then went southerly on the snowmobile trail downhill to a low wet curve, turned around and hiked northerly back up hill. We crossed over the dam and bushwhacked through the tall, wet vegetation to Hunts Pond Road and then northerly to our car.

My most memorable encounter was the lush mullein forests. One specimen was 12 feet high! Many bullthistle bushes were 10 feet high. Several pasture thistles were found. The red efts were so plentiful that Anne was very busy shepherding them off the trails. On the drive back to HoJo we passed 3 turkeys getting rained on in a wet, grassy field. “This is like looking in a mirror”, I mumbled.

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