Central & Western NY Outdoors
June  2006 

 

~~~ IN THIS ISSUE ~~~                                 

Paddling the Southern Reaches of the Genesee River

Now, That’s Obsessed

Matters that Matter

HARPS, SUNSETS, CANOES, AND A FOOD FESTIVAL

Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory

Walk the Historic Welland Canals

Buffalo River Fest Regatta

Wednesday Evening Paddles on the Chadakoin River

Paddle Lake Chautauqua When The Moon Is Full 

Google helps you count calories burned and measure your steps

 

      Paddling the Southern Reaches of the Genesee River by Sue Freeman

“Don’t miss the southern reaches of the Genesee River” she said. I looked at her quizzically. Rich and I were compiling a list of streams, rivers and lakes to paddle in Central and Western New York at the beginning stages of work on our “Take A Paddle” guidebooks. We were asking every waterway expert we could round up for ideas. Laura Arney, a one-woman bandwagon for the Genesee River, was adamant that this one was a gem. We weren’t so sure. We had grown up in Rochester, and to us the Genesee River was a wide, muddy torrent of water.

So, with reservations, we loaded our kayaks and headed south to Wellsville in late July. Before us lay a wide, shallow stream filled with crystal-clear water. Could this be the same river – the Genesee River that carved the deep gorge of Letchworth and wallows northward to Lake Ontario? We launched into the swift current and headed downstream through a constant series of ripples and small runs interspersed with flat water sections. In late July, with low water levels, we had to push over shallow spots quite often, but we didn’t mind. The cool water felt good and between pushes the current carried us along.

This stretch of the Genesee River was a rush for us as novices. We could almost always see a clear run out beyond the ripples, which calmed my inexperienced, wildly beating heart. A few times we walked the kayaks around chutes that were impeded by trees or where we couldn’t see the run out before a pull-out decision had to be made. Gravel banks at the inside of each bend made this scouting process easy. This turned out to be a great place to try our first run at small ripples. The water would be higher in spring and probably cover many of the ripples. Others might turn into class II white water.

We heard some road noise while we were near Route 19, but otherwise we encountered few signs of civilization. The view was of wooded banks and a few sharply cut sand banks for variety. Our companions were ducks, herons, crows, and woodchucks. A gravel bar at the inside of a river bend provided an easy spot to haul out for a break. We sat, eating GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) and drinking water, as the river gurgled gracefully before us.

After 10 miles and 3 hours, we reached the dam in Belmont and headed right to take-out above the dam. After a short gap in Belmont caused by the dam and some small waterfalls, there’s another 40 mile stretch of paddling water from Belmont to Portageville. Then you darn well better haul out or risk tumbling over some mighty waterfalls into the Letchworth Gorge. Laura was right. The southern reaches of the Genesee River should not be missed.
Resources:
Guidebook: Take A Paddle – Western New York Quiet Water for Canoes and Kayaks, www.footprintpress.com

Water gage: The water level is gaged daily on the Genesee River. Log onto http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/uv?04221000 to check the 7 AM Stage for Genesee River - Wellsville. This segment is not navigable if it’s below 4.5.

     Now, That’s Obsessed

During the summer of 2002, between his junior and seniors years at Duke University, Andrew Skurka hiked the Appalachian Trail in 95 days (an average of 22.8 miles per day). It was his first thru-hike. In 2004-2005, he hiked 7,000 miles from sea-to-sea across North America, which included a major segment of the central and western portions of the Finger Lakes Trail.

He just finished a “2 Seas 2 Feet” slideshow road tour, giving over 80 shows. In June, 2006, he begins a 45-day hike on the Pacific Crest Trail in California. In addition to being a great backcountry experience, he’s hoping that this will whip him into shape so that he can do some other neat hikes during the remainder of 2006 and early-2007. These currently include:

• Hiking the Colorado Trail in 13-15 days with ultrarunner Krissy Moehl 
  

• Breaking the Colorado Trail speed record (50+ miles per day), but without a support crew 
  

• Hiking 140+ roadless miles through Greater Yellowstone 
  

• Completing the Long Trail Yo-Yo during leaf season, maybe with a cool twist (TBD) 
  

• Walking from Springer Mtn to Harpers Ferry via the AT (1,010 miles total) without a resupply
  

• Snowshoeing Minnesota's Superior Hiking Trail, Border Route Trail, and Kekekabic Trail in January
  
  Updates/trip reports, photos, gear lists, and other interesting information from all of these hikes will be posted on http://www.AndrewSkurka.com. Stay tuned.
  
  If you’re planning a trip into the great outdoors this summer (or even just dreaming), check out the Advice & Tips section of his website, which includes some really helpful information about lightweight gear and philosophy, nutrition, and training.

     Matters that Matter by Rick French

Einstein once said that only three things matter in life: kindness, beauty and truth. At times we have all had an experience that moved us in one of these categories. A number of people who have taken trips with us over the years have been moved by something that they experienced. Some of these people have gone out and done something that really matters. Matters that matter is a way to help these people share their story and to let people know how they can help out to make the world a little better place. Below is one story to help illustrate what is going on.

Rich Nolan’s adventure all started with a shoe box. This was a Christmas shoe box sent out to a child who was in need, hopefully. The box was received by a young girl in a refugee camp in Uganda. She asked Michael Masembe, from Child Care International, to translate what the gift was for and from whom. Michael wrote a thank you note back to Rich expressing the thanks of that young girl. According to Rich, "This simple act started a correspondence with Pastor Michael Masembe that made me aware of the conditions in the refugee camps and the plight of AIDS orphans."

“In January 2006 I began a two legged journey - first to Tanzania where I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro - then to Uganda to meet Michael and stay as a guest in his house, along with his family and numerous adopted children. The kindness and openness they showed me, a stranger was felt throughout my entire stay.”

Rich has helped to buy a sewing machine for a 17 year old girl who is deaf and can't speak and was trained as a seamstress, but couldn't work because she didn't have access to a sewing machine. Rich has paid tuition for one of the older girls to attend school for one semester, bought school supplies for two semesters for the elementary school, and several piglets have been bought to expand the pig program for widowed women.

This is just the start of one story and touches the tip of the iceberg of what is being done by a number of people. To see more or to see how you might be able to be a part of these acts of kindness visit www.packpaddleski.com and click on the button Matters that Matter. Check back over time to see new Matters that Matter and to check on progress. 

     HARPS, SUNSETS, CANOES, AND A FOOD FESTIVAL by Rick French

Join the second annual Little Lakes Food Festival July 29, 2006.  Enjoy the food, wine, music and the arts of the four western Finger Lakes (Conesus, Hemlock, Canadice and Honeoye), named the Little Finger Lakes ; hours are 10am to 5 pm . The Eagle Crest Vineyard on beautiful Hemlock Lake is the host.

You will find outstanding music, fine art, great wine and food both to eat on site and to take home. Small scale food producers from the Little Finger Lakes will offer tastes of their unique products.

 Eagle Crest Vineyard, the second oldest winery in the Finger Lakes Region and Deer Run Winery of Conesus Lake will be sampling their products. Help celebrate the new Little Finger Lakes Wine Path. Both wineries will have wine by the bottle available for sale during the festival.

Hear great music including Celtic, old time fiddle and Bluegrass featuring Phil Banaszak Trio (City Fiddle), The Dady Brothers and Mary and Howie Lester. Bring a chair or a blanket to relax and enjoy the music. Acoustic musicians are especially invited to jam and will have an opportunity gain an open microphone.

 A limited-seating dinner beginning at 6 pm will cap this unique event. Executive Chef Mike Herzog will lead a team of local chefs in preparing a five course fine dining experience. The dinner will be prepared from the finest Little Lakes chicken, beef and lamb accompanied by seasonal vegetables and fruits. Multiple wines will be poured to compliment your meal. Dinner will be served on the great lawn under a large tent thus dress will be casual.

Delicious food, great wine, wonderful music, beautiful surroundings and a festive atmosphere will accompany you and your party. Dinner tickets are sold in advance and will sell out quickly. Do not miss this unique opportunity for a Taste of the Little Finger Lakes! The proceeds of the dinner will be donated to the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4H program. For details call Fred Forsburg at 585.346.3829 or see www.ATasteoftheLittleFingerLakes.com .

Follow the interpretive walks down the hill to Hemlock Lake through the Nature Conservancy property (10 minutes down and 30 minutes back), a beautiful walk! This is an exclusive opportunity to visit this beautiful hillside forest with its cool deep-cut glens rushing toward the lake.

Why this festival?... In short it is different:

Afterwards you can also join a Harp and Torchlight Paddle on the beautiful Hemlock Lake.  For more information on that visit www.packpaddleski.com under day and evening programs.

      Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory

Visit this web site to learn about the Kestrel Haven Avian Migratory Observatory in the heart of the Finger Lakes. We especially enjoyed the slide show under Wildlife and the photos of dragonflies. 

Enjoy ... and consider supporting this worthy cause.
http://home.att.net/~kestrelhaven/home.html

     Walk the Historic Welland Canals by Sue Freeman

 

Just across the Canadian border near Buffalo, the Welland Canal was built in 1829 to provide a water connection for ships to make their way between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The massive locks in this canal allow boats to traverse the 180-foot change in elevation caused by the Niagara Escarpment. This limestone cliff is what creates Niagara Falls.

Big lake-faring freighters come from all over the world and spend a full day moving between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario through the locks. The first impression of these ships is of their overwhelming size – they’re often longer than two football fields and weigh more than 30,000 tons. It doesn't seem possible that something of such immense proportions could even be built, much less be able to dock, load, and sail the lakes. Yet dozens of lakers and "salties" (sea going ships) ply up and down the Welland Canal every day, casting enormous shadows as they cruise incongruously past lush orchards and vineyards. 

For visitors to the Welland Canal there’s a museum and viewing platform at Lock 3 in St. Catharines (1932 Welland Canals Parkway, 1-800-305-5134). My husband Rich and I stopped there to gaze at the huge ships a few years ago. Much to Rich’s consternation, I entered my name in a drawing. Usually this results in a call from a salesperson trying to sell me something. This time, it won us a trip on a laker as it passed through the Welland Canal. On the free trip, we spent an entire day exploring every inch of the ship and watching it scream (or so it seemed from our perspective) into locks from our vantage point next to the captain on the ship’s bridge. It was an awesome experience.

The canal in use today, is the forth in a series of Welland Canals. Like the Erie Canal System, this one was widened, deepened, and rerouted over the years to accommodate larger ships. To step back in time and see the previous versions of the Welland Canal we tied on our hiking boots and headed down a portion of the Bruce Trail. 

The Bruce Trail is a 500-mile-long hiking trail that runs along the Niagara Escarpment in Canada, from Niagara Falls to Georgian Bay. On the small segment we hiked this day, we turned our backs to the current Welland Canal with its large ships, and headed into the quiet woods to see the various  stages of the previous canal. We walked along the original ditch, abandoned and barely visible. Then we hiked along a rushing waterway and passed old locks  that still exist but are missing the lock gates. At one point the trail even lead down into an abandoned lock and we got to feel the limestone blocks and study lock construction up close. This short walk transported us back in time from 2005 to the 1830s.

A simple day trip from Rochester with a map and sturdy sneakers on your feet, and this discovery can be yours to enjoy. To read about this and other adventures along the Bruce Trail, pick up a copy of Bruce Trail – An Adventure along the Niagara Escarpment at www.footprintpress.com.

       Buffalo River Fest Regatta

 

June 24, 2006 - 11:00 a.m. start

Canoe, Kayak, Build and “Float Your Boat”
Pre-Registration Cut Off Date: June 9, 2006

• Prizes for each category and for Home Made Vessels: “Most Creative” and “Best Dressed”
• Canoes & Kayak’s launch: Harlem Rd. & Clinton St. and end at the Ohio St. Canoe Launch
• Non-Competitive Launch and the “Float Your Boat” Launch from the foot of Smith St. (Drop off craft at Harlem Rd./Smith St., Drive Car to Ohio St. to park. Take Shuttle Bus back to Start Point to begin Regatta)
• United States Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices (PFD’s) are MANDATORY!!
• Pre-Registration Cut Off Date: June 9, 2006
• Cost is $15 per Person Pre-Registration ($20 day of event) Includes T-Shirt (Pre-Registration Only)
• Check-in begins at 10:00 AM at Launch Point
• Download the registration form PDF

http://www.rigidized.com/home/calendar.html 

     Wednesday Evening Paddles on the Chadakoin River by Irene Bozogan

Join Evergreen Outfitters for a Wednesday evening paddle this summer on the Chadakoin River (aka, the Outlet of Chautauqua Lake). If you have your own gear, there is no charge to paddle with us. If you need a kayak/canoe the fee is $25. This is a great time to try out different models that you might be considering.

If you need a kayak please be at the store before 6pm. We put in at McCray Point Park in Jamestown about 6:30pm and paddle for about 2 hours. Please call Evergreen Outfitters at 716-763-2266 to tell us you are coming or to reserve a boat. It's great camaraderie and a lot of fun! 

www.evergreen-outfitters.com

     Paddle Lake Chautauqua When The Moon Is Full by Irene Bozogan

Have you ever experienced the wonder of paddling at sunset? As the sun begins to settle down for the night, the last rays of colorful light gently bounce from wave to wave. You paddle though a lake of orange and gold that compliments the glory of the sunset colors in the sky. The tensions within your body are absorbed by those last rays of light and the gentle rocking of the boat. As the sun goes down the moon rises. The orange and gold colors turn to silver and ebony.

Come join us for an hour of paddling and fun around a campfire. We will share s'mores, stories and music. Tina Nelson, Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Camp (LCLC) Outdoor Education Director, will talk about the importance of conserving shoreline and various topics. A $5 donation is suggested.

Dates:

Saturday, June 10
Saturday July 8
Saturday August 12
Saturday September 9

Time: 7:30PM

What to bring: Kayaks or canoes, and necessary gear. PFDs are required apparel. Flashlight/headlamp, water shoes, blanket/camp seat

Rental kayaks are available from Evergreen Outfitters for $25/person. 

Location: Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Camp (LCLC) Boat House. As you proceed down the LCLC driveway, turn left at the "Welcome" sign. Turn left at "Trinity Knoll" sign. Turn right towards the lake and park near the shore.

Reservations are required. Call Evergreen Outfitters at 716-763-2266 

Experience a new and different side of Lake Chautauqua.

www.evergreen-outfitters.com 

     Google helps you count calories burned and measure your steps

With the new Google Map Pedometer you can enter the address of the starting and ending point of your walk or point to the locations on a map and calculate the distance walked. The distance can be displayed in either miles or kilometers. A calorie converter can be also be used to determine the number of calories burned.

  

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