Month: July 2019

I woke in the middle of the night on day two of an overnight hike to the sound of wind hissing through the trees, soon followed by light rain. After falling back to sleep I woke again in the morning to gray skies and damp air. I climbed back up over the hill and down to West Branch Bucktooth Hollow Road. After turning right on the road I arrived at 4th Street and a long climb up to the next trailhead.

After completing the climb I counted my remaining water knowing I needed to ration. I made my way down a rough and rugged section of trail as fog drifted through the tree to arrive at the Pat McGee Rail Trail. Although flat and straight the rail trail was torturous. Sweating and hot I paused at an old railroad bridge for a break before continuing on.

The trail took me past the Elkdale Golf Club and up a road with fresh stone. I felt every stone under my feet as if it were a hot coal. After leaving the road I climbed up an old logging skid and finally up to the brand new lean-to near Little Rock City. I continued on through the massive boulders, too tired to take more pictures. Once past the area I descended down through the tornado ravaged area and out onto Hungry Hollow Road.

After a break to drench myself with water from a stream running next to the road I started the last leg of the trail back to my car. Moments later thunder rumbled and rain began to pour. I completed the last 1.5 miles in a soaking rain. As I drove off the storm became fierce; rain came down in buckets and lightning flashed. My drive home took me in and out of tremendous storms.

Day one of an overnight hike began early with a long drive. After parking off McCarthy Hill Road I made my way down past the old CCC Camp Seneca. The trail took me back up a climb through an area devastated by a tornado in 2010. Once I had finished the climb the trail wound through the woods and large boulders began to appear. My boot caught on a root and the toe pulled back causing the sole to flop loosely.

A short time later I came to the awesome spectacle of Little Rock City and forgot all about my broken boot. Massive boulders soared high above me as roots grew down moss the moss covered sides. I wound my way through the giant rocks and left them behind too soon. Along the way I stopped at a brand new lean-to before continuing on. My path took me past the Elkdale Golf club and onto the Pat McGee Rail Trail where I crossed an old railroad bridge.

After a very long walk on the rail trail I turned off and climbed up through a rough and rugged section to finally arrive at 4th Street. A steep descent down the road took me to the next trailhead and I climbed up through tall weeds and grass. I passed a non-existent tent site and finally descended to the Bucktooth State Forest Lean-to — my “home” for the night.

I started my hike at the next road crossing west of US 219 where I had been turned back previously. After hiking to the top of a ridge above US 219 I was once again force to turn back; this time due to briars and an eroded path down the steep slope. After returning to my starting point I continued on west on the trail, passing through a future housing development and on up over a hill.

I descended down to Maples Road and made my way across a yard next to a barn. At the back of the yard I was unable to find a blaze and had to navigate using my digital map. Once back on the trail I climbed up another hill and around the side; blazes infrequent. The trail finally brought me down to NY 242 in Ellicottville.

I crossed NY 242 and continued my way into Holimont Ski Area. The trail took my up the ski slopes at an angle and then across the top past three ski lifts. After leaving the lifts behind I passed three ponds. A man and his dog, Reggie, were fishing at one, and a small beach full of families ended the third.

I continued on out to McCarthy Hill Road and then started back. At the beach area I stopped to rest in one of a pair of lean-tos. My track took me back along the top of the dike by one of the ponds and then back past the lifts and down the slope. I climbed up the hill and around and then back down to the yard on Maples Road.

One last steep climb greeted me on the other side of Maples Road. I slogged my way up the hill, pausing for a rest at a memorial bench before proceeding on. Finally I was descending back down through the future housing development and back to my car.