Susquehanna Chapter ADK

Fortunately, I never formed the habit of checking out hikes before hand. Had I done so I would have gone somewhere else and 22 people would have missed a challenging and stimulating scramble through seemingly constant blow downs. We were in the West Branch Nature Conservancy Preserve on the West Branch of the Delaware River. Everyone was pleased to find that the big white oak on this property is still healthy although it has lost some large branches. In the small "old growth" stand of hemlock and pine, there were a number of trees down but none of the really large ones.

The outing Tuesday, July 22, is a Clip-Clop, Waggle Walk in Bear Swamp State Forest in the Towns of Roseboom and Decatur in Otsego Co. This ski trail, newly opened after a period of harvest, requires marking, clearing and a short stretch of new trail. The area can be accessed from the north on the Buttermilk Hill road which departs from County Rt. 165 a mile or so east of the hamlet of South Valley; or from the south on the Formen Road via County Rt. 38. ( A county map is probably essential here).