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Abbott Loop West

Tuesday 07/05/2022 4:00 pm

New Shorter Option!

Hike rating:

Distance – 5miles; Terrain – Moderate; Pace – Moderate; Overall rating – Strenuous

Event/Trailhead location:

Park on the shoulder at the orange-blazed Abbott Loop crossing on Michigan Hollow Road, about 3.5 miles south of Route 96B in Danby (click for map). Look for orange blazes, not white blazes.

Hike Leader:
Charlie Strohman

Contact:

Hike leader contact information will be sent in the email acknowledging that you have registered for this hike. 

Hike Details:

 

 

Brief Hike Details:

This is a 5 mile hike on the trail section west of Michigan Hollow Road rated strenuous with some steep uphill pitches.  

The route resembles a lollipop, heading up to the Pinnacles from Michigan Hollow Road, and then back again.

We will meet at the orange blazed trailhead on Michigan Hollow Road. Do not wait at the white-blazed trailhead – you will be at the wrong location.

There is a shorter version of this hike that will depart the corner of Bald Hill Road and Station Road at 4:30.  This group will meet up with the other group at the Pinnacles…and return to its trailhead on Station and Bald Hill.

Wear sturdy waterproof hiking boots, bring water and insecticide if you use it.

If you will have difficulty navigating to the trail-head, contact the hike leader at the address above.

Check this space the day of the hike for any changes or a cancellation.

 

Detailed Hike Description

Our destination this week is the Abbott Loop. We will start at the south crossing of the loop on orange blazes off Michigan Hollow Rd. Look for cars and hikers gathering. (Do not wait at the white-blazed trailhead – you will be at the wrong location).

Along the way we cross a new creek bridge, designed and constructed primarily by Charlie Strohman (with some help from other volunteers) during the Covid pandemic in 2020. We next traverse a sometimes-muddy section along the creek known for prolific wildflowers, but also prone to flooding. So come prepared with sturdy hiking boots and gaitors if you have them.

We then hike a steep 400 foot incline on our way to The Pinnacles, which features a beautiful view to the north and west. Then it’s downhill through a pine plantation, mixed hardwoods, and then a return to the cars.

The shorter version of the hike will progress down Bald Hill Road and ascend to the Pinnacles on the orange trail, returning the same way.  This part of the hike is rated as moderate due to shorter distance and less steep pitches.

The long hike is rated strenuous, and it has steep pitches. If you are a novice hiker or struggle climbing hills, you may want to join us another time.  The shorter hike is rated as moderate because it is shorter and does not climb as far in elevation.

The Abbott Loop was created in the early 90’s by Cayuga Trails Club. It would not exist without the persistence of Cliff and Doris Abbott over several years. The Abbotts were avid hikers and very active in local and regional hiking organizations, serving as officers and in several other roles. They thought the western section of Danby State Forest would be prime real estate for a hiking trail, but the DEC Foresters of that era were less than enthusiastic.
 
A compromise was reached when Doris flagged a route that ran for some distance along the Forest’s borders and made use of old logging roads. When a route was finally approved, then the real work began. The Abbotts cut and blazed much of the 8.8 mile trail themselves, with help from other volunteers. The Abbotts also contributed to the quality of local hiking by setting a higher standard for trail maintenance, blazing standards, and trail-head signage.
 
For the past 30 years the Abbott Loop has been one of the most heavily hiked trails in Tompkins County. It has been well maintained by a team of volunteer trail adopters, and improved with bridges, puncheons and reroutes to improve the hiker experience.
 
The hike route resembles a lollipoploop. We will start and end on the orange blazes where the FLT crosses Michigan Hollow Rd.  For the shorter option, meet at the corner of Station Rd and Bald Hill Rd.
 
Bring sturdy, broken-in waterproof hiking boots or shoes, gaiters, water and insecticide if you use it.

If you will have difficulty navigating to the trailhead, email the hike leader at the address above.

Check this space the day of the hike for any changes or a cancellation.

Registration is closed!

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