Bullthistle Hiking Club

Hike Report Saturday 2/5 Ludlow - Tucker Rd South.
It was about 9 degrees when we started and 12 when we finished. There were 6 hikers, Marlene Barnhart, Christine Gregorie, Teri Currie, Anne Altshuler, Karen Ellsworth and Steve Ellsworth.
We met at 9AM and traveled to the trailhead arriving at 9:25 where we met Karen who shoveled the snow bank to the foot bridge that crosses to the trailhead South. Between the Kiosk and the one lane bridge. Enroute we met a woman who was walking her 3 dogs in the road and as luck would have it a couple of the cars in the caravan had to stop on the hill going up Tucker Rd. Waiting for the dogs to be controlled, we wondered if we could get going again on the icy road. Luckily, no one had to back down.
The past storm left us wondering what the conditions would be like. That area had rain and mist mixed with sleet and snow on Thursday which left a 4" crust on the snow and a few inches on top of that on Friday. So, snowshoeing was great as the crust held us up from breaking through which we would have without the snowshoes. The group went South to the newly refurbished bridge which was our plan. We decided to go on the register about .1 miles further to the boundary of private land.
Reading the register reminded me of a trip I took with my sister-in-law Diane last summer when there were so many mushrooms.

A stop at the Ludlow Lean-To was necessary as we were anxious to see the beautiful location with the little falls in Ludlow creek.
After 2.1 miles we were back at the car an Marlene offered up hot cocoa and ginger blocks (an old Gale recipe)
The hike was easy enough to enjoy the incredible Ludlow State Forest.
Map;
https://www.gaiagps.com/public/1V0mhV82EVOC1fIqFMZm098l

Photos:
Don't ever let a chance go by!
Steve

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Only a few hours left to register for tonight's presentation (free). Then watch for the registration for next week (Feb 10th) that presentation will be hike leader basics - Steve Ellsworth and Peggy Schmidt Fuller from the Bullthistle Hiking Club will be 2 of the presenters.

Hike Report Sunday 1/30/22 Bowman Lake Loop +
A cool morning for sure. We met at 10AM, a little later than usual but 10 degrees warmer. We parked near the entrance of the Bowman Lake SP.
Anne Altshuler, Lisa Wolf, Kristina Wolf, Christine Gregorie and Steve Ellsworth donning snowshoes.
John Nesbitt and Karen Ellsworth donning x-country skiis.
The snowshoers hiked around the lake about 2 miles if I had turned the gps on sooner.
The skiers took the XC2 trail and then South to the dam and over to the Kopac trail to the North end of Bowman Lake about 6.5 miles.

After getting out of the North wind we had warmed up from our efforts and the trees took the bite out of the wind. We saw deer, fox, red squirrel and coyote tracks. (snowmobile tracks too)

We took a couple of water breaks and had a snack, mine a frozen granola bar.

Map:
https://www.gaiagps.com/public/h7Ah606N2aJe0UJsUl230MWj

Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F_7xvwtFDS2Wwe_eL-DL3bAakHIkTFwu?usp=sharing

The Bullthistle hike meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 1st at 7 PM.
Location - Chenango Arts Center conference room in Norwich

There will be a video presentation for anyone attending in person.

Membership renewals are due. A membership form is attached. Please continue to support our local hiking club thru membership.

Also attached are the Jan. meeting minutes and the Feb meeting agenda.

To attend the meeting virtually, use this link:
https://join.freeconferencecall.com/peg379

Additional Options to connect:
Dial-in number (US): (609) 746-1082
Access code: 278578

Snowshoe Hike Report Fred Stewart Rd to Plymouth Lean-To Sunday 1/23/22
We started from Norwich caravaning with 4 hikers. At the trailhead on Fred Stewart and Center roads.we picked up 3 more hikers.So we had 6 snowshoers and one xcountry skier. Helen Crouch, Christine Gregorie, Lisa Wolf, Bob Nolan, Karen & Steve Ellsworth and John Nesbitt. We headed west on the spur trail to the FLT and then turned South on the blue trail, on the West side of Fred Stewart. We turned East and crossed Fred Stewart then Coy St. and onto the snowmobile trail to the Plymouth Lean-To.There was about 12" of snow in the woods. When we were almost to Coy St. you could see a little pond but can't find any name for it on 4 maps. While looking at maps, to the North of the trail the drainage goes to the Canasawacta and to the South the Genegantslet. We took a break at the Plymouth Lean-To then headed back. When we got to Coy St. a seasonal road 3 snowshoers headed to Center Rd and back to Fred Steward and the parked cars. The remaining 4 went through the woods to Fred Stewart and then headed North on the seasonal road.
We covered 4.5 miles and ascended 222'
Map:https://www.gaiagps.com/public/wHJmTCXIO334bcaVJQWFU7QU

Photos:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AdW0Hc2aIdqLeUvWc5UOr1LhJrkjbxLe?usp=sharing

25 degrees warmer than yesterday morning!Steve