Frankie and I often take an Easter hike (which is exactly like an ordinary hike except it involves a lot more candy). Today we convinced Erwin to join us. We went to Tioughnioga Wildlife Management Area, parking at the trailhead for the Link Trail on Irish Hill Road. For the first part of the hike, the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) follows the Link Trail. Then on Holmes Road, they diverge, with the Link Trail continuing south and the NCT following the Onondaga Trail southeast. We took the NCT into the woods. I keep meaning to come back and hike the Link Trail south from here, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I'm just a little too obsessed with the Finger Lakes Trail.
This hike was almost an exact repeat of a solo hike I took in 2016, except that today we turned back at the East Branch of Limestone Creek. It is a large, fast-moving stream with no bridge, so I had warned Frankie in advance that we might need to turn around here. Last time I crossed a log jam and continued onto Damon Road before turning back. Frankie was certain we could do the same thing today, but Erwin wanted no part of it and it wasn't worth arguing over. Damon Road is just a short bit further, and the trail past the creek follows a field edge. No big deal to miss, although of course I might feel differently had I not hiked it previously. [OK, I definitely would.] Anyway...
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| two-leaved toothwort (Cardamine diphylla) in bud |
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| trout lily (Erythronium americanum) |
Frankie was terribly enamored with this sign that was laying down along Holmes Road. He wanted to bring it home with us! [Of course we did NOT.]
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| spring beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) |
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| Cazenovia Lake in the distance |
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| eating Easter candy |
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| kids take so naturally to Leave No Trace -- always walk through the mud, not around |
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| East Branch Limestone Creek, with the blue blaze on the opposite bank |
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| signing the register |
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| Easter basket buddies came along for the hike |
MapMyRide tracked this out-and-back hike at 4.8 miles roundtrip, with approximately 400 feet elevation gain. It was good to get out with the whole family; it has been quite some time since Erwin has joined us for a local adventure.
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