Notices for hikers

Thanks to Phil Davis for working diligently to clear the view from the Pinnacles over the course of two days, ending today. You'll now enjoy an even better view to the west and northwest thanks to his work to clear brush and drag trees, cut by a certified sawyer, out of the way. He maintains this area to provide an unobscured view for hikers. It also happens to be a fantastic spot for lunch or picnic. A fair commitment of time and a lot of sweat equity went into this project.

Thanks, Phil!

  - Gary Mallow, Trails

Thanks to the FLTC Alley Cat crew that just completed the beautiful new Tamarack Lean-to in Danby State Forest. If you need shelter when on a hike, or are planning a backpack and need a stop for the night, you won't find a more solid, better built structure to hang up your pack and rest for the evening. Barring some unusual circumstance like fire or a tamarack getting blown down on it, there is no reason this shelter shouldn't match the old lean-to's endurance (45 years).

Approximately 30 volunteers were involved in everything from dismantling the old lean-to, to ordering local lumber and supplies, to cooking for the crew, chainsaw work, running the ATV, and hefting logs and lumber, among many other roles. Special recognition goes to the leaders of this project: Quinn Wright, Ken Reek, Jacqui Wensich, with a lot of help from Roger Hopkins. - Gary Mallow, Trails

Thanks to members of the FLTC Alley Cat crew who broke away from the lean-to project to build 6 new puncheons in the wetland area just off Route 79 in the Town of Caroline. Although you wouldn't know it at this time of year, these puncheons will be very useful when the area floods in late winter and early spring.

If you see any of these volunteers, be sure to give them your thanks for working most of a day in hot, humid conditions: June Meyer, Emily Hughes, Georgia Vyverberg, and Joe Cobb. - Gary Mallow, Trails

Thanks to 9 volunteers who came out on a hot, humid day to work on clearing brush and many dozens of multiflora roses on the FLT, from Woodard Rd. to Route 13. Hikers should have a much easier time getting through this section of Treman Park now.

If you see any of these volunteers, please give them your thanks: Phil Dankert, Roger Hopkins, Peter Marks, Paul Warrender, Barbara Nussbaum, Michael Nussbaum, Bruce Cutter, and Howard London. - Gary Mallow, Trails

The white-blazed Finger Lakes Trail is closed from its juncture with the orange-blazed Buttermilk Spur (off Townline Rd.) to W. Jersey Hill Rd.

Road-walk alternative: hiking west to east as you come up out of the Lick Brook Preserve, turn right on Townline Rd. and continue hiking on the road until you pick up white blazes at Blakeslee Hill Rd. Continue to the intersection with Layen Road, where the trail continues on the abandoned section of old road.

This section is closed due to withdrawal of permission from a landowner. Please respect this preference and stay off this section of trail. - Gary Mallow, Trails