Swift Hill

While researching the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT), I discovered the Passport Program sponsored by Wegmans.  The point of the program is to encourage people to get outside and hike.  There are 3 different areas: West, Central, and East.  You must complete a certain number of hikes in each of the brochures to receive a patch.  After looking at the different Passport booklets, I decided to tackle the West Passport first.

Last Friday, August 21st, I was going to do a 5K Run in Pike, NY.  After the 5K (which I did in 41:40 - my best 5K time yet) I decided I was going to go to the Swift Hill State Forest in Centerville, NY to complete my first Passport hike.  The Passport guide stated it was an easy 2.2 miles out and back, so I figured it would be bad to do after the 5K.

Sign Next to the Parking Lot

 When they say this hike is easy, it was super easy.  The trail was well marked except when you got through the woods and had to cross the road.  Luckily, I printed the map from the booklet so I could look at it.  There wasn't much to look at on the trail in terms of scenery, it was just a nice walk through the woods.  I did bring my new selfie stick that I bought for $5 at Walmart and had some fun taking pictures.

Trail Signs near Rushford Road

Selfie with Passport Program Station

You put paper over the W07 and rub it with a pencil to prove you walked the trail.

Still getting used to using the selfie stick.

This was my first hike with my backpack but I still didn't have the chance to go to Buffalo or Rochester to purchase hiking boots.  The backpack was great, but the hike was so short that I didn't really need to drink any of the water I brought with me.  However, by the end, I could feel a blister starting to form on my right big toe.  I wore and old pair of running sneakers (my Saucony Hurricane 14s).  I really just need to throw those sneakers out.  I was able to go on Sunday and buy hiking boots so I'll get to try those out soon.

By completing this short trek I have completed 1.1 miles of the 572.5 miles of the FLT Main Branch. That means I have completed 0.2% of the trail.  Yes, its not a lot, but it is a start!

Bit by the Hiking Bug

So I've rediscovered hiking and how much I enjoy it.  When I was a kid, we went camping a lot for vacation.  I think as I got older (in addition to my parents getting older) we stopped going camping and spent our vacations at the beach.  I remember camping at Shenandoah National Park where the deer walk through out the tents and hiking to see great views.  It was also the only time I remember owning actual hiking boots before.  I also remember a few years ago in Lake George when we hiked Buck Mountain and it was crazy hard but fun.

Well the rediscover comes while training for a half marathon.  I've been running (or rather run/walking) for the past 3 years.  As of today, I've run 171 miles this year; more than the previous two years combine.  In attempt to run a farther distance, a friend and I went to Letchworth State Park to run.  Well, it turned out it was more of a hike than a run but we easily did 10+ miles.

Me at the bridge over Wolf Creek

Even though our main objective was running, I really enjoyed the parts we walked and hiked.  After that, every time I went for a long run in a park setting I just wanted to hike it and enjoy the scenery.  This happened when I tried to run at Genesee County Park.  Another influence was the preview for the movie A Walk in the Woods.  I read the book by the same title in high school and I have always thought it would awesome to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT).

So with the AT back in my brain, I wanted to reread A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.  Apparently, so does everyone else and I was unable to get a digital copy from the library.  The only other ebook that the Pioneer Library System and the New York Public Library had available was a book about this Grandma who hiked the AT.  So I borrowed Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery.  It was a wonderful story and now I needed another book to fuel my trail hunger.  Luckily, someone mentioned that they were debating buying Bryson's book or Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  It was available to borrow from the library and I couldn't wait for bedtime to keep reading it.  I finished it last night and started looking for another "long-trail" book.  Now I'm reading The Appalachian Trail Girl's Guide: Part Memoir, Part Manifesto by Megan Maxwell.

In addition to reading novels about different trails, I've been doing some research of my own.  Being a school librarian, I have summers off and it would be the perfect opportunity to hike a complete trail.  However, I think the AT might be a bit much.  In looking for trails around home, I found the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT).  The FLT Main Trail is 575 miles long and starts in Pennsylvania near the Pennsylvania-New York Border in Allegany State Park.  It ends in the Catskill Mountains.  There are also various branch trails that connect to the main trail.  After looking at all the maps, I think that this would be a doable trail to through-hike in the summer.  While I'd love to through-hike the trail next summer, I don't think it would be completely doable nor would I get the support.  So I might try to section-hike the trail and try short backpacking excursions.

Finger Lakes Trail Sign at Swift Hill

So, this journal will be the documentation of my hiking adventures.  Right now, my focus will be on different parts of the FLT, but there are other adventures and challenges I'd like to do.  I bought myself a daypack and some hiking boots and I'm ready for adventure!

My Daypack