Exploring a new Finger Lakes Trail route: White Church Valley to Eastman Hill
Monday 02/21/2022 10:00 am
Hike rating:
Event/Trailhead location:
New White Church Road trailhead parking lot, adjacent to 861 White Church Road (click for map).
Hike Leader: Gary Mallow
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 six mile out-and-back hike rated difficult due to a series of steep uphill pitches.
We will explore the Finger Lakes Trail on Eastman Hill, on newly established trail in the Eberhard Preserve, and along a rail-to-trail section of the FLT.
Dress in layers according to the weather, wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots, bring water and a snack or sandwich.
Trail conditions may dictate the use of microspikes, or, if we get significant snow cover, snowshoes may be the gear of the day.
If you will have trouble navigating to the trailhead, contact the hike leader at the address above.
Check this space the morning of the hike for any changes or a cancellation.
Hike Description
The White Church (Brooktondale) area is a classic example of a glacially-carved valley with extremely steep hillsides. As most CTC hikers know, these slopes present big challenges for routing, building and hiking trails through these valleys.
Approaching from the east, the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) climbs up through small sections of Danby State Forest to Eastman Hill before heading down the treacherously steep, knee-killing slope to State Route 96B. The Cayuga Trails Club and the Finger Lakes Trail Conference have long wanted a different route for the FLT, one that could follow a more contoured route, on public lands or a protected trail corridor.
Anatol and Carolyn Eberhard owned 143 acres at the southern end of the White Church Valley – they loved these woodlands where they had an adjacent home, planted trees, built trails and hunted. The Eberhards recently donated their land to the Finger Lakes Land Trust, which will be opening it to the public as a Nature Preserve. The preserve also now hosts a rerouted FLT. The Land Trust had already been working to protect properties in the Eastman Hill area, acquiring several that have or will be transferred to the State DEC to become part of the Danby State Forest. These properties provide the route connecting the FLT to the Eberhard Nature Preserve.
On this hike, we will be exploring the trails in this area, including the Eberhard Nature Preserve.
Dress in layers according to the weather, wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots, bring water and a snack or sandwich.
If you will have trouble navigating to the trailhead, contact the hike leader at the address above.
Check this space the morning of the hike for any changes or a cancellation.