Central & Western NY Outdoors
 February 2007 

     

 ~~~ IN THIS ISSUE ~~~                                 

     Hiking in Icy Conditions

     Conquering Life's Challenges

      Future Trails

      Near Home Adventures

      Last American Hero Eco-Challenge

      Join the second annual Canal Clean Sweep

 

Winter hikes can be beautiful – with snow gleaming across the ground and tree branches providing silhouettes against the sky. But it can also mean icy conditions where our slick-booted feet could use some assistance.

Recently, a conversation on the Finger Lakes Trail email list discussed the pros and cons of various boot grippers:

Mary Domanski wrote that she has a pair of grippers with the twisted wire, called Yak Traks that she bought at Wal-Mart. Many runners buy them for running in the winter. She found them to be helpful, but the rubber could easily break.  This happened to her, leaving her with only one that worked properly.

Michael Calanan replied that he has used both the YakTrax and the YakTrax Pro and both sets tore within part of a season's worth of use. Thankfully EMS was kind enough to accept them as returns and he now has some gear credit that he hopes to use on something beefier.

A fellow hiker swears by STABILicers: http://www.campmor.com

But for those conditions where his MSR snowshoes (and their wonderful traction/siderails) are just too much, he’s going to opt for crampons instead, such as these: http://www.campmor.com

 

Dear Rocky, 

This past Saturday I was reading the Winter 06/07 issue of Adventure News and was captivated by your concept of the 'Cancer Community' in the Inspirational Journeys article you wrote. It almost seems like part of the article was directed at me as it touched upon many situations and/or thoughts that have at one time or another wondered around some where in my subconscious, especially this past year. This past January I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Fortunately it was not too far advanced and the most logical and medically smart thing to do was to have the prostate removed, which successfully happened in April. Enough of that. 

Two things I wanted to accomplish during 2006 was to hike into the Grand Canyon and climb a 14'er in Colorado. After finding out about my prostate cancer I checked with my doctor to see if it was OK to still do the Grand Canyon before the operation. He said fine so I booked into the Phantom Ranch and did that hike at end of March. As you know first hand the Canyon is awesome. That left Long's Peak to somehow get in this year. I set a goal to recover, get back in shape and commit to the Colorado hike. Almost four months to the day from my surgery I was standing on top of Longs Peak looking at some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever experienced. Starting at 2 AM and watching the sunrise over the Rockies while hiking above 12K will be a life long memory. 

Adding to this overall experience, the day I called my daughter to let her know I had cancer turned out to be the same phone call where she informed my she was pregnant with my first grandchild. From cancer, to canyon to Colorado, to a healthy grandson, its been an up and down journey this year. Hopefully this gives you an insight into why your article so captivated 
me. 

Jim 

FOLLOW UP - Jim in now committed to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of raising $100,000 for the American Cancer Society. For more on his story see www.journeysofinspiration.com

Trail building continues at a fervent pace in Central and Western New York. Here is (I’m sure) a partial list of trail building projects slated for the next few years:

● The Town of Livonia in Livingston County won the Healthy Trails, Healthy People Grant from Parks & Trails New York to build the Lakeville-Livonia Trail in 2007.

● The Town of Victor in Ontario County won a Federal Transportation Enhancement Program grant to extend the Auburn Trail northward from Main Street Fishers to Powder Mills  Park. Work is slated to begin spring of 2008.

● Victor Hiking Trails was selected for a grant from Genesee Region Trails Coalition to re-deck the Lehigh Valley Railroad trestle where the Lehigh Trail crosses over the Auburn Trail near Phillips Road. Work may start as soon as April, 2007.

● Grants from local legislators and Trout Unlimited have provided a major boost for the Chittenango Creek Walk Committee's efforts to develop an accessible network of trails within the village of Chittenango in central NY. The Chittenango Creek Walk Committee seeks to develop 3.3-miles of trail connecting neighborhoods, parks, the business district, and the Canalway Trail.

● The Robert Moody Trail, located in the Town of Gorham in Ontario County, came one step closer to completion with the recent announcement of a grant from the Rails to Trails Conservancy and the Coca-Cola Corporation.

● The Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area in Ontario County is now bigger and better, thanks to the acquisition of 61 additional acres, some of which is old growth forest.

● Federal Transportation Enhancement funds were secured to partially fund a bridge connecting the Perinton Hikeway/Bikeway to the Erie Canalway Trail in Perinton, Monroe County. (see our December Newsletter "Major Trail Connection Coming" for more info on this project)

● Manchester is getting a grant for a project being called the “Manchester Gateway Pedestrian/Bicycle Pathway System.”

         Near Home Adventures

 

If you live in or near the counties of Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming or Yates, you’re in luck. A new web site resource, developed by the Genesee Region Trails Coalition will help you identify places to hike or paddle near your home.

Visit TrailsNewYork.org and click on the large map. This will take you to another page where you can select to see land trails, water trails, parks, points of interest or events. Click on any bubble to find the name of the trail and links to information about it or links to the guidebook with details on the trail. You can scroll around and zoom in and out to find just the trails near your home.

Play with it and have fun. I bet you’ll find places to explore that you didn’t know existed – right out your own back yard!

Thanks to Jeff Hennick (jeff@trailsnewyork.org) for all the volunteer effort he put into building this resource. It’s a work in progress so contact Jeff if you know of corrections or additions.

         Last American Hero Eco-Challenge

Aguaman, you have just found your super powers. Your team needed to cross the gorge on a rope to get them for you, and now you have them. Good thing because later today, you will be the hero when the water crossing event is met. 

Using only the items given you, and cooperating with another team, you will have to figure out how to cross a pond and keep your secret directions dry. 

Of course, after the mountain biking, finding your way through the wilderness, crossing a lake by canoe, climbing up a beautiful waterfall, traipsing through the mud and trails, avoiding kryptonite, the water event will feel pretty good. 

To find out more how your team can find their super powers, go to http://www.packpaddleski.com/270603.htm

Planning is underway for the second annual Canal Clean Sweep - a springtime event to spruce up the Canalway Trail, parks and other public areas along the New York State Canal System. 

Individuals and civic organizations from Buffalo to Albany are encouraged to take part on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22. To learn more and get involved, contact Parks & Trails New York at canaltrail@ptny.org

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