OutdoorsVT
Pittsford trails offer mud-season alternative
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The stubby remains of a tree gnawed by a beaver stick up along the banks of the Furnace Brook on the Cadwell Trail in Pittsford. DARREN MARCY |
Toolbox
By Darren Marcy - Published: April 3, 2008
Hiking back along the road toward the shelter of my vehicle with the rain pelting my right eardrum and wind threatening to blow me into the farmer's field, I couldn't help but wish I had somehow found an extra half hour to hit the trail a little earlier.
I had already cut a short hike even shorter and was now taking the road back rather than complete the loop as a storm that had been threatening for some time finally hit.
The day had looked like rain until late afternoon when the sun popped out for a bit.
I desperately wanted to put boot to ground and figured stealing some time between the end of the work day and sunset was my only chance given the weather we've been having lately.
So wearing the dayhikers that shod my feet more days than not, along with the cords and button-up from work, I dropped by the house to bum my wife's point-and-shoot and headed for Pittsford with the sun still shining but fading fast.
My plan was to hit a path not far from where I live that is part of the Pittsford Trail Network — a group of trails I knew next to nothing about just a few days earlier. I knew Pittsford had a trail near its recreation area, but after a little searching, I found there are, in fact, five distinct trails in town.
The trails run alongside rivers and streams, cut through woodlands and meadows and meander through groves, according to a town map, which can be found at trailheads or at the town offices on Plains Road.
In addition to the town's Recreation Area Trails, there are the Split Rock Trail and Hitchcock Trail — west and northwest respectively from the recreation area — and the Meadow Loop trail, which comes within just a few blocks of connecting the Recreation Area Trails to another called the Cadwell Trail.
The Cadwell Trail, the one I was racing the storm on, is a 2.4- miler about a mile south of Route 7 on Elm Street.
The trail skirts the Otter Creek, Furnace Brook and a lagoon and, at times, cuts across fields and through meadows. With Elm Street splitting it in two, the "east section" is just less than 1 mile, while the "west section" is about 1.5 miles.
I headed east, not just because I'm a wuss looking for the shortest route, but because it looked more interesting on the trail map I pulled from the box at the trailhead.
My original plan was to do the east side and then, based on the weather and daylight left, possibly tackle the west section.
The trail was essentially flat and grassy with one uphill exception.
We've seen a little precipitation lately what with the snow and rain in the last few days and the track showed it. The grassy turf was spongy in places, soggy in others.
There were sections where runoff had taken over and I dutifully walked through it as trail etiquette dictates rather than going around despite the fact that my shoes will be wet for days.
Only two things slowed me down as I made my way along the Furnace Brook bubbling lazily along high and muddy.
The first was of an impressive array of trees that had been snapped off mid-stem, most likely during last year's big windstorm. The other was an arrangement of tree stubs that was left after the tree had been worked over by a beaver.
As I left the river-bottom area and headed uphill and across a farmer's field, the wind began to whip and an occasional raindrop landed. I picked up the pace as it turned to a steady sprinkle. I couldn't see the hills to the west and knew the storm would arrive within minutes.
Unfortunately, it was about 10 minutes back to my Blazer along Elm Street. I was soaked by the time I slid behind the wheel.
The trails draw a mixture of Pittsford residents and visitors, said Randy Adams, Pittsford recreation director, offering a recreation opportunity for locals and a draw to make Pittsford more of a destination.
"I think we get a good share of both (residents and visitors)," Adams said. "It's part of what Pittsford can offer. It gives folks a different perspective of Pittsford."
Each trail also offers a chance to see Pittsford in a different way, with diverse hiking opportunities from farmer's fields and marshy river bottoms, to higher elevation trails with more hills.
Adams said he couldn't say if one trail or system of trails was more popular than the others, but they all get their share of use.
The trails in the Pittsford Trail Network are mostly easy, according to a variety of sources, but there are some that would be rated moderate and some sections bordering on difficult. They are also mostly short, or at least have options that allow for a short walk. But by linking two or more, it is possible to put together a longer hike.
With muddy conditions seemingly everywhere else, destinations such as the Pittsford trails are popular this time of the year. That's not going to change soon with many trails on state and federal land closed until Memorial Day.
Adams asks that users keep mountain bikes and horses — normally accepted on the trails — off the paths while they are soft.
"This time of year, we wouldn't want them out there tearing it up," Adams said. "As long as the soil is firm and dry, we don't mind having them out there."
Adams also asked that users respect the trails, practice Leave No Trace principles and pack out what you pack in. In addition, many of the trails cross private land, so be respectful.
The trails are maintained by a group of volunteers. There are no fees and they're open year-round.
For more information, e-mail rsadams11@verizon.net or call 483-6500, ext. 17.
Darren Marcy is a local outdoor enthusiast. His Web site is www.DarrenMarcy.com. E-mail him at darren@darrenmarcy.com.