The Finger Lakes Trail across upstate NY was started in 1962, and for nearly 25 of those years, Howard Beye was THE major volunteer for the organization that tends it. He was a deeply involved trail chair, keeping track of map updates, organizing and training those who adopt portions of our over 900-mile trail system, tracking volunteer hours for every one of them during an annual “census,” arranging Challenge Cost Share projects, and organizing every one of our three to four special work-week projects, the annual “Alley Cats,” and handling the majority of correspondence with the state agencies who host many miles of our trail.
Hike Report
By Cate Concannon, hike leader
Eighteen hikers participated in the second annual Howard Beye Winter Hike/Snowshoe. The hike was held on the Bristol Hills Trail, between access 7 and Pulver Road on January 14 - a cold, crisp day, following the first big snow of the 2011-2012 winter season. To keep things interesting, two hikers plus two dogs started at Pulver Road. Fourteen hikers left from the end of DeWolf Road (near access 7) with plans for two of them to leave the group at access 8. One hiker joined up with us at access 8 to finish with the larger group.
The amount of snow we received was at times not quite enough for snowshoes, but many people opted to wear them. The first half of the hike contained interesting blazes (courtesy of Dave Marsh, who worked hard to try and distinguish our Bristol Hills Trail from blazes made by the landowner, often the same color) as well as a big downhill section. Temperatures in the teens kept everyone moving and the larger group reached access 8 around 12:30 or so to enjoy lunch and cookies. It was also about this point that we crossed paths with the ladies and canines who were hiking in the opposite direction and had a big uphill climb ahead of them. The second half of the hike started with a long, gradual uphill from Italy Valley Road. The remainder of the hike was uneventful, and we all agreed that the new Outback Inn shelter was top notch. I think we all agreed that it was a nice winter day to be hiking – little wind, a little sun and pleasant companions!
Many thanks to the brave souls who came out in some pretty cold conditions to enjoy the beauty of the Bristol Hills Trail: Chris Asbury, Peter Latham, Bob Krenzer, Dave Marsh, Mark Hopkins, John DeSyne, Emory Morris, Heidi Rothfuss, Jack Sexton (who wins the prize for driving the furthest, from Binghamton), Georgia Binder, John Greer, Marsha Zgola, Paul Hoffman, Melissa Cohen, David Matthews plus our reverse hikers Deb Nero and Laurie Ondrejka and their four legged friends. Thanks also to Chris Asbury, Mark Hopkins and Laurie Ondrejka for assisting with the car shuttle.
Hike Announcement
The 2012 Howard Beye Hike will be on SATURDAY, January 14, 2012. This will be a winter hike/snowshoe on the Bristol Hills Trail, FLT Map B2.
Hike: We'll plan to start near access 7, which is near DeWolf Road, and hike through to the parking area on Pulver Rd. The hike/snowshoe will be approximately 7 miles and take us through the Italy Hill State Forest on the Bristol Hills Trail. We'll be able to check out the new Outback Inn shelter and privy erected by the FLTC work crew this past fall.
Maps of the Bristol Hills trail can be purchased very inexpensively from the FLTC store.
Please dress in layers, pack a lunch and plenty of water.
Meet: 10:30 am, location is TBD, but it will either be at FLT Map B2 Access 7, Dunn Rd or in the village of Naples, depending on which parking areas are plowed out. This will be announced on the FLTC listserv, Facebook page, and in this description in early January, 2012.
those years, Howard Beye was THE major volunteer for the organization that tends it. He was a deeply involved trail chair, keeping track of map updates, organizing and training those who adopt portions of our over 900-mile trail system, tracking volunteer hours for every one of them during an annual “census,” arranging Challenge Cost Share projects, and organizing every one of our three to four special work-week projects, the annual “Alley Cats,” and handling the majority of correspondence with the state agencies who host many miles of our trail.