Central
& Western NY Outdoors
April
2006
~~~ IN THIS ISSUE ~~~
Landslide Reshapes Fellows Falls
Bicycle Swap & Flea Market, free
Runner, biker, hiker, skier ....
"Mark the Spot" of Your Favorite U.S. Nature Sites
Upcoming Events from Footprint Press
Every year around now, almost 2,000 people start on
Springer Mountain, Georgia with dreams of walking over 2,000 miles to Maine
on the Appalachian Trail. Of these, over half will not finish.
Why will people leave jobs, loved ones, and a secure
bed to spend 6 months walking around 15 miles per day with a heavy pack on?
Each person has his own reasons. For those who finish, it is a life-defining
experience. Many of the reasons a person has at the start are not the same
reasons with which they finish.
Have you ever thought about doing something like hiking
the Appalachian Trail? What holds us back from doing it? What holds us back
from many of our dreams? How many of our dreams stay locked safely out of
sight?
This spring a small group of hikers will head to Georgia to day-hike the AT and to meet some of those people who are dreaming of standing on Mt. Katahdin in Maine. (For more information see www.packpaddleski.com) What are you dreaming about this April?
It was
the best of times, it was the worst of times…
I heard “Come on Dad, you can do it!” as I dug
myself out from being buried in snow after trying to descend the chosen
route. Chosen by God and a 14 year old. I used to ski this stuff. But it has
been years since then. And now I was on a snowboard because a few years back
in my warped parental brain I thought it would be something we could begin
together. Well, the learning curves at 10 and at 44 are 
different.
I am still beginning and my 10 year old is now a 14 year old who learns from
each turn to balance more intricately the forces of gravity. Gravity is
wearing on me in different ways. Going “downhill” has many meanings.
Despite this, I have never experienced more joy than
when watching my son, arcing through a turn while yelling to me to take a picture. We
then play it back and decide if it is a retake or not. It usually is, as the
digital camera has a delay much greater then a teenager’s speed. His
desire to share his excitement helps my blood to stay young.
Every year parents tell me it is going to be the worst
year. First the 2’s, now the teens. Every year it gets better. Why?
Luck maybe, listening more likely. His interests are
different than mine. Some are similar but the degree is vastly different.
The joy is in sharing his thrills. It is in understanding and
remembering my excitement the first time a tele-ski actually turned for me.
It is in the patience required to listen, that I pause my life and it is
filled with youth again. It is being in the present so I don’t hear the
weight of life’s pressures, failures and responsibilities. It is the
timelessness that comes with the beauty of sharing life’s joys. My life
becomes suspended and unimportant. Joy becomes eternal.
The Finger Lakes Trail has new maps – not just new, but spectacularly
new and utterly wonderful. They’re full 4 color topographic maps on one
side with updated trail guide information on the reverse side. Everyone
who has seen them and used them has had flowery compliments for the
hardworking volunteers at the Finger Lakes Trail Conference who worked so
hard on their development. To view an enlargement, click on the map.
The new maps began when Joe Dabes learned how to use ArcView, a
sophisticated mapping program. He then spent over 1,500 volunteer hours on
the project this past winter! The National Park Service currently assigns
a figure of $18.04 per hour as a value of volunteer labor contributions.
So, Joe added a $27,000 value to the walking citizens of our state!
Also volunteering his time, Alex Gonzalez reviewed every word on the back
of the maps to correct the grammar and refine all the texts into a single
style. And every trail sponsoring individual or group returned marked-up
maps to Joe with corrections and new info. It has been a monumental
project! But the result is an entirely new set of detailed maps for the
Finger Lakes Trail.
Contact the Finger Lakes Trail Conference to order a set today at www.fingerlakestrail.org/.
FLTC members get a 20% discount. Why not join first, then order some maps?
Then, head out to hike part or all of the Finger Lakes Trail (562.9 miles)
or its branch trails (236.0 miles). It’s spectacular (and hilly!)
terrain with a trail built and lovingly cared for by volunteers.
Landslide Reshapes Fellows Falls by Diane Harper
On our visit to Fellows Falls (page 322 in 200 Waterfalls in Central & Western New
York) in the summer of 2005, we were greeted with a dramatic change to the entire area. Because of a landslide along the northern side of the creek and falls, the road bed that crosses the stream above the falls had to be rebuilt. Most of the gorge walls along the right side of the falls have been replaced by boulder/rock fill. The falls is now extremely difficult to see. Click on this link to see some before and after landslide photos:
http://harperkay.homestead.com/FellowsFalls.html
The Western New York Mountain Biking Association is once again offering this event to the entire cycling community. It will be an opportunity for families, fitness riders, and racers to gather for a day to buy, sell or trade bicycle related items in preparation for the 2006 bicycle season. It will also be a venue for local bicycle shops & vendors to display discontinued or closeout items & good used equipment. There will be a bike corral where individuals can offer their used bicycles for sale and where anyone can find a great deal on a used bike.
Sunday, April 9, 2006, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Main-Transit Fire Hall, Williamsville NY
For booth/table/corral space reservation only, call before 7:30 PM, (716) 632-1344,
www.wnymba.org, Jerrine95@aol.com
Bring your stuff or come shop for "new to you" biking stuff.
It doesn't matter what your pleasure is, check out this web site for some great identification/safety gear:
http://www.roadid.com/?referrer=2592
Active outdoor travel lovers have a new resource for finding that perfect spot in nature - each other. At
www.wheresyours.com, visitors can post journal style entries and photos about their favorite U.S. outdoor vacation spots and view others' postings.
Considering that 48 percent of Americans spend at least one week researching a new getaway via multiple sources, from word-of-mouth to travel Web sites, "Where's Yours?" offers a complete guide of outdoor destination reviews directly from the most passionate travel and outdoor enthusiasts and experts - simplifying the outdoor getaway selection .
"'Where's Yours?' was developed for people who love being active in the outdoors," said Clare
Kanter, associate marketing manager, Nature Valley (the company that invented the granola bar in 1975). "The site is a good resource to learn about a new place for a favorite activity or a new activity in a beloved place."
"Where's Yours?" posts reviews that appear as journal entries. Travelers can post their favorite U.S. nature spot by submitting a journal entry of up to 250 words, provide ratings across four categories (beauty, value, remoteness and intensity), suggest activities that can be enjoyed there, and post pictures. Since more than 75 percent of Americans consider both a location's surroundings and activities when selecting their next outdoor getaway, they can easily find and review both on "Where's Yours?"
Logging on to the Web site and submitting a journal entry is simple. Just visit
www.wheresyours.com to get started. Travelers can also customize their "Where's Yours?" experience by signing up to receive weekly or monthly e-mail notifications when a new journal entry matches their activity interests or selected locations.
"Where's Yours?" Contest
Outdoor enthusiasts can also visit "Where's Yours?" for a chance to win one of four grand prizes: a trip with three friends to any one of the many locations (within the United States) posted on
www.wheresyours.com. To enter, contestants must submit an original essay (up to 250 words) describing their own personal spot in nature. A photo submission is optional. Contestants may enter as many times as they wish, and entries will be judged upon creativity, authenticity and descriptiveness. The contest runs through September 30, 2006. For official rules go to
www.wheresyours.com. No purchase necessary and void where prohibited.
Nature and Photo Hike
April 15 10:00 AM
Braddock Bay Raptor Research, Braddock Bay Waterfowl Refuge Trail, Greece
This event is part of the (20th ) annual "Birds of Prey Week".
Are you looking for a fun learning experience with nature and photography? Meet at the lodge on East Manitou Rd., then join Norm Wolfe on a photo hike at the Waterfowl Refuge Trail, which is one of the best areas around for nature and photography.
Garden-scaping For Nature
April 24, Monday, 7-8:30 PM, $21.00
Greece Adult Education, 1785 Latta Rd., Greece 14515, (585) 621-1000 ext. 7411
Are you a gardener who would like to see an abundance of animals or a bird-watcher who would like more birds in your yard? Then this course is a must. Habitat is the biggest factor for attracting animals and birds. Learn the right way to establish or complement an existing garden that is conducive to their needs. Understanding their habitat requirements and using the correct process of planting makes for a functioning garden which will attract animals and birds. At the same time you will have fun creating and watching it all evolve. Learn how to do this without impacting or degrading the environment with invasive or unwanted plants.
Norman E. Wolfe, author of "Birding in Central and Western New York", instructor of birding for everyone, nature photography and experienced outdoorsman will give you the "do's and don'ts" of proper landscape gardening that will work in this part of the country.
Garden-scaping For Nature
April 25, Tuesday, 7-8:30 PM, cost $25 (RIC members $20)
Rochester Info-Courses, 1150 University Ave, Rochester, 14607, 585-256-1960 ext 201
Are you a gardener who would like to see an abundance of animals or a bird-watcher who would like more birds in your yard? Then this course is a must. Habitat is the biggest factor for attracting animals and birds. Learn the right way to establish or complement an existing garden that is conducive to their needs. Understanding their habitat requirements and using the correct process of planting makes for a functioning garden which will attract animals and birds. At the same time you will have fun creating and watching it all evolve. Learn how to do this without impacting or degrading the environment with invasive or unwanted plants.
Norman E. Wolfe, author of "Birding in Central and Western New York", instructor of birding for everyone, nature photography and experienced outdoorsman will give you the "do's and don'ts" of proper landscape gardening that will work in this part of the country.
Nature and Photo Hike
May 6, May 7 (rain date), 10-12 AM - 1:30-3:00 PM, (2 sessions), cost $48 (RIC members $42)
RIC Campus and Mendon Ponds (Devils Bathtub)
Rochester Info-Courses, 1150 University Ave, Rochester, 14607, 585-256-1960 ext 201
Why pay top dollar for beautiful nature photos when you can take them yourself? There are plenty of stunning landscapes and exciting wildlife in the Rochester area, and vacation spots add even more visual splendor to our memories. You can learn how to preserve these moments in photos once you learn some of the basics of nature photography. This 2-session course has all of the essentials of nature photography, using conventional and digital formats, including:
- how cameras and other equipment work
- how to set up and take great nature photos
- tips on printmaking and enlarging
- tips on video sound recording birds
- how to keep a personal log and journal
- how to nature even more through photography
Bring your camera and your enthusiasm!
Nature Photography
May 8, Monday, 7-8:30 PM (2 sessions), residents ?, non-residents ?
May 15, Monday, 7-8:30 PM
Greece Adult Education, 1785 Latta Rd., Greece 14515, (585) 621-1000
Why pay top dollar for beautiful nature photos when you can take them yourself? There are plenty of stunning landscapes and exciting wildlife in the Rochester area, and vacation spots add even more visual splendor to our memories. You can learn how to preserve these moments in photos once you learn some of the basics of nature photography. This 2-session course has all of the essentials of nature photography, using conventional and digital formats, including:
- how cameras and other equipment work
- how to set up and take great nature photos
- tips on printmaking and enlarging
- how to nature even more through photography
Bring your camera and your enthusiasm!
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