News:
1/17/10 January Hike
January's Happy Hikers on the Lehigh bridge over the Auburn Trail. Photo by Chauncy Young.
Next Month will be Harriet Hollister Memorial State Recreation Area. See the calendar.
11/22/09 Another new trail is opened in Victor
It was another beautiful fall morning in the Town of Victor as members of Victor Hiking Trails, Inc. (VHT) officially opened a new trail. This trail will eventually connect the Lehigh Trail with the Auburn Trail. The new trail is on property owned by Domine Builders Supply Corporation which is a subdivision of CRH, plc., one of the worlds leading building materials companies. CHR is headquartered in Ireland. The members of Victor Hiking Trails want to thank Chris Liberatore, President - North Atlantic Territory of Oldcastle Building Materials and Sunny Brisco, Manager at the Domine facility, located on Wangum Road, for allowing VHT to open this new trail for public use.
The members of VHT also want to thank the Wednesday Trail Crew (WTC) for doing much of the clearing needed to open this trail. WTC is a group of retired and semiretired men and women who have banded together to work on trails in parks and/or for nonprofit groups, like VHT, each Wednesday morning except during the hot summer months. The Wednesday Trail Crew has helped VHT with several new trails such as the Omnitech Business Park extension of the Trolley Trail.
The new Domine Trail is currently a loop trail that is accessed north off the Lehigh Trail between Wangum and Phillips Roads. Look for the brown hiker symbol and VHT signage on a post about half way between the two roads. Next summer VHT plans to build a bridge across a tributary of Irondequoit Creek in order to connect the loop to the Auburn Trail just east of the Hamlet of Fishers.
Domine Trail Description and Map Page
10/15/09 Report on Town Board Meeting (10/13/09): Auburn Trail
Chris Smith of Fisher Associates reported that the "6-foot compromise" (only 6-feet wide stone dust surface) is not wide enough for safety and can not be financed with the federal funds. They indicated they could give a waver (from the 10-foot wide standard) to only 8-feet. He also reported that it must be at least 8-feet wide to meet the relevant portions of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Another environmental study was performed for the State. This late summer study was to compliment the early summer study, so as to not miss any plants. No additional endangered plants or animals were identified. The few twinleaf plants near the path can, in their professional opinion, be easily and safely moved out of the way of construction. There are larger beds of twinleaf on the RG&E property that are well away from the path.
While not a public hearing, several individuals did exercise the regular Public Comments period to discuss the trail. Representatives of Genesee Valley Audubon Society, Rochester Butterfly Club, and Burroughs Audubon Nature Club, together with Mr. Steve Daniel, came to town and gave prepared comments against any path wider than 3-feet; in some cases asking to "leave it [the 1000-yard section south east of Railroad Mills Rd.] alone." [Apparently on the assumption that it would not change from the way it currently exists.] They also reiterated that, in their opinion, ADA requires only a 3-foot wide path.
Chauncy Young and Jeff Hennick (both officers of VHT) then each gave unprepared responses. Chauncy noted that the current situation does not meet ADA requirements. Jeff pointed out that most all VHT members are doing what we are doing because of our love of the outdoors, the wildflowers, the birds, and the butterflies. He emphasized that the reason birds and butterflies are there is because it is maintained as linear meadow. He asked that whatever path width is finally constructed, that there be wide enough shoulders to give plenty of linear meadow, suggesting that there be a narrow band of mowed grass, and a wider band of meadow that is maintained by being mowed once a year. He finally discussed the "leave it alone" option. This is land owned by RG&E. They use it for high voltage power transmission and must have access to their poles and lines. They have the requirement, from both regulators and us customers, to keep trees and vegitation away from the wires and poles. If VHT ceases to mow and trim, the corridor will quickly grow over. RG&E will then send a crew to clear cut the whole corridor, and likely use herbicide on it to slow recovery. This cycle of overgrow and clearcut will continue. Jeff suggested that out of 10 years, maybe 2 would be inviting meadow for birds, butterflies, and people. He cited the example of the Auburn Trail between Victor Village and Fishers where in the mid 1990's VHT had maintained a 3-foot wide path. RG&E found that too narrow for their operations and did clearcut the whole section. It is just now that the sides of the trail are regrowing nicely. For an example of the overgrowth phase, he suggested looking at the RG&E corridor just to the north of Railroad Mills road.
The next step is for Fishers Associates to revise the plan, followed by another as yet unscheduled public hearing.
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10/7/09 Fort Hill, Dryer Trail
A composite panoramaic view from Fort Hill looking south from the VHT trail between Dryer Road Park and School Rd. Here is a larger
version in the Photo Album.
10/6/09 Updated map
VHT recently purchaced a handheld GPS device. We are in the process of better maping our trails. Already the map has been updated for the Seneca Trail in Gonandagon and "the swamp," Dryer Road Park - Fort Hill Trail, Monkey Run Trails, Bluebird Trail, and Lehigh Crossing and Harlan Fisher Parks. More will be coming.
Welcome to the Victor Hiking Trails, Inc. official Homepage!
Your contribution will help maintain and extend a network of hiking trails in the town of Victor.
We are a grassroots organization that began exploratory meetings in the fall of 1991. We have accomplished a lot, but we still have much work ahead of us. We currently have over 30-miles of open trails. These include well connected multi-use rails-to-trails, secluded woodland rambles, stream side walks, and longer cross-town hiking trails. Some connect various town and state parks, others exist by themselves. In addition, we are actively scouting out possible sites and negotiating with land owners and developers for permission of public access to their property. Our purpose is to develop a trail system which will preserve open space and provide an educational and recreational experience for everyone in the town of Victor.
We the People: Involved in Victor Hiking Trails are kindred spirits. People who care about the land on which they live. People who enjoy nature in all its bounty. People who want to improve their town and leave something that will add value to our lives. People like you. We welcome you among us. We meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM in the Victor Town Hall at 85 East Main Street. Meetings are informal and everyone is welcome. Please try to join us, you can get to know us better. We have regularly scheduled work parties for clearing and maintaining the trail system. Please see the calendar.
VISION- Create and maintain foot trails and multi-use paths in the Town of Victor.
- Promote a meaningful relationship with nature.
- Promote individual responsibility for protecting the environment.
- Provide recreational activity through walking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing.
- Provide education to the public through nature interpretation, historical information and proper use of trails.
- Promote good relationships with all people (landowners, government officials, adjacent townships, and trail users).
- Trails of various terrain, landforms, views and habitats for various plant and animal species.
- Trails in various geographic sections of the Town of Victor with access by as many residents as possible.
- Trails of various lengths and difficulties.
- Trails for foot traffic and paths for multi-use including bikes.
- Dave Wright - Chairperson
- Jeff Hennick - Vice-Chairperson & WebMaster
- Wizzy Geno - Volunteer Coordinator
- Nat Fisher - Secretary
- Chauncy Young - Treasurer
- Carol MacInnes - Trail Master
- Larry Fisher - Trail Boss
- Roberta Lockwood - Historian
- Ruth Nellis - Education
- Dave Coleman - Membership
- You too can be a part of the VHT team!
- 1980's - Conservation Board initiates concept.
- Summer of 1991 - Town Board approves concept
- September 24, 1991 - First organized meeting
- May, 1992 - Incorporated in New York State
- September 18, 1993 - First trail opened
- June 16, 1994 - Tax exempt status approved by Federal Government
- September 17, 1994 - First Bridge Walk (Fund Raiser)
- See How To Develop a Foot Trail In Your Town
- Enjoy nature.
- Care about the land.
- Want to improve Victor.
- Hikes - Second Saturday each month, two weekends each year and a National Trails Day Special
- Maintenance - Usually One weeknight and two weekend mornings each week
- Meetings - Third Thursday each month 7:30 p.m. at Victor Town Hall
- Usually on the second Saturday of each month we gather at 9:00 AM for a 2 to 3 hour hike, for local hikes; bring lunch for more distant destinations. Sometimes we follow existing trails and sometimes we bushwhack to scout out new trail locations. Each Spring and Fall we have a weekend in the Adirondacks. For the location of future hikes watch the newsletter, call one of the officers for detailed information, or see VHT's On-line Calendar. Please join us.... it's a great way to meet the members. Here is the list of past and future hike destinations.
- We need assistance in a myriad of areas. Join us at a meeting and volunteer your services. Some of the needs (but by no means all) that we have are:
- lead hikes
- draw maps
- measure trail lengths
- make and install signs
- build trails, bridges and boardwalks
- build map boxes
- identify trees, flowers and birds (Monkey Run, example)
- illustrate
- take photos
- write articles for our newsletter and the Town newsletter
- collect donated items
- work on a committee
- recruit new members
- work on a fund raiser
- scout possible trail locations
- help with paperwork
- make phone calls
- We'll create more opportunities as we grow. Maybe you can provide a skill or interest we need but haven't even thought of yet. You will be surprised how skilled you are. Join us and put your talents and interests to work.
- $10.00 Supporting Membership
- $20.00 Contributing Membership
- $100 Trailblazer Membership
- $250 Path Builder Membership.
If you join or renew at the $20.00 level or above, you can sign up a friend or neighbor for free.
Donations of useful equipment are also welcomed. If you are an owner of land with trail possibilities, please contact us about a Revocable Permit for a trail.
