New Group Forming to Hike the Genesee Valley Greenway
Black Creek, NY, May 21, 2008 --- Marilee Patterer, outdoor enthusiast and member of the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway, has taken the initiative to establish a hiking club, informally known as the Southern Tier Greenway Hikers.
According to Marilee, who lives with her husband Joe in Black Creek, NY, A small group has started to hike different Southern Tier sections of the Greenway each Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. We'd be happy to welcome new members.
The group has hiked a 2-1/2 mile stretch from Tibbetts Hill Road outside of Black Creek to the missing 43' bridge south of Rockville (scheduled to be replaced this summer) and back again. Marilee says, ?On this remote and scenic section of the Greenway, the beavers were hard at work chopping down good-sized trees. During the winter, we saw beaver footprint trails in places that were iced in the Greenway as they crossed over to the other side of the trail. This is really amazing to see!
Last fall, the group hiked the Greenway section from Rt. 305 to Rockville Lake. This is a more historic section of the trail as it contains the remnants of Genesee Valley Canal lock 90. Ron Abraham, a trail adopter, does a wonderful job maintaining this section. Right now, this section is difficult to hike, but bridges are scheduled to be installed this summer making it a must-see section of the trail.
Walking the two-mile section from Rockville Lake to Gleason Hill Road is "delightful" says Marilee. The brook babbles as you hike, chat, and remove some fallen branches from the trail. Ron Abraham has extensive knowledge of the trail and is so informative pointing out old canal locks, foundations, a turning basin, and even knows lock numbers. The hike is both physically and mentally invigorating.
The next hike is scheduled for May 31st at 9:00 a.m. Interested hikers should contact Marilee at marileepatterer@yahoo.com, or by calling (585) 968-3555.
The Genesee Valley Greenway is being developed and maintained by a partnership involving the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway. To learn more, contact the Friends at www.fogvg.org, 585-658-2569, or fogvg@frontiernet.net.