Finger Lakes National Forest

Nestled in upstate New York, the Finger Lakes National Forest spans 16,000 acres of diverse terrain, combining lush woodlands with expansive pasture land. Encompassing woodlands, grasslands, and glacial lakes, its picturesque landscapes and well-maintained trails attract outdoor enthusiasts, offering opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The forest’s five distinctive trails wind through the scenery, revealing stunning views of gorges, waterfalls, and panoramic vistas. The forest is also home to the celebrated Finger Lakes Trail, a long-distance hiking trail extending over 580 miles. Limited free primitive and roadside camping opportunities along the roads add to the allure, providing a chance to immerse in the natural beauty for longer periods. As the only national forest in New York State, it provides a unique space for relaxation, exploration, and immersion in the captivating landscapes of the Finger Lakes region.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_Lakes_National_Forest
http://www.fs.usda.gov/fingerlakes
http://www.cnyhiking.com/FingerLakesNationalForest.htm

Weather Update – July 28, 2021

It looks like today is going to be a pretty decent day after the sun comes out which is already starting to happen. β˜€ I am debating whether I should go to Trumansburg or Watkins Glen today. I would like to hike and explore the trails at Texas Hollow sometime before vacation is done, along with maybe part of Connecticut Hill.

Tomorrow looks like a good day to stay close to camp, β›Ί read and just hang out. Not that I’ve been super active or ambitious during all of vacation. I just like my hammock a bit too much. Friday and Saturday look pretty good but cold ❄. Like late September weather up here on the Backbone.

Weather Summary
Today.
Feels like …
September 24th.
Slight Chance of Showers then Sunny and 71 degrees , 8:31 sunset.
Tonight.
Feels like …
August 26th.
Increasing Clouds and 59 degrees , 5:56 sunrise.
Thursday.
Feels like …
September 14th.
Chance of T-storms and 75 degrees , 57 max dew point, 8:30 sunset.
Thursday Night.
Feels like …
August 20th.
Showers is likely and 60 degrees , 5:57 sunrise.
Friday.
Feels like …
October 5th.
Slight Chance of Showers and 66 degrees , 62 max dew point, 8:29 sunset.
Friday Night.
Feels like …
September 24th.
Mostly Clear and 49 degrees , 5:58 sunrise.
Saturday.
Feels like …
September 28th.
Mostly Sunny and 69 degrees , 51 max dew point, 8:28 sunset.
Saturday Night.
Feels like …
September 6th.
Mostly Cloudy then Chance of Showers and 56 degrees , 5:59 sunrise.
Sunday.
Feels like …
September 24th.
Chance of Showers and 71 degrees , 54 max dew point, 8:27 sunset.
Sunday Night.
Feels like …
September 14th.
Partly Cloudy and 53 degrees , 6:00 sunrise.
Monday.
Feels like …
September 28th.
Mostly Sunny and 69 degrees , 56 max dew point, 8:25 sunset.
Monday Night.
Feels like …
September 14th.
Partly Cloudy and 53 degrees , 6:01 sunrise.
Tuesday.
Feels like …
September 26th.
Mostly Sunny and 70 degrees , 53 max dew point, 8:24 sunset.

Good Morning – July 28, 2021

Good morning! What day is it? Halfway through vacation with a broken phone screen, of course. πŸ“±

Clouds, drizzle, fog and 62 degrees at the Finger Lakes National Forest. ☁️ There is a west-northwest breeze at 6 mph. πŸƒ. The dew point is 61 degrees. The skies will clear around 10 am.

So I broke my phone yesterday. πŸ“± Still works somewhat but the screen is a mess. Simply fell out of my hand when I was locking my truck. Sucks but I’ll order a new one next week. I see if I order the same phone I have as now it’s as affordable as $20.

Went to Robert Treman State Park for a while for a swim πŸŠπŸ»β€β™‚οΈ. The water was super cold and fairly mucky, πŸ’¦ the deep end was closed due to poor visibility of the water as there was a lot of water coming over the falls. β›ˆ Than a thunderstorm came through and the gorge swimming closed. I thought about hiking around Treman Lake or the gorge, 🚢🏻 but for a while in the afternoon it was raining β˜” hard.

I am still a bit pissy about my phone πŸ“± but this happens from time to time. I am kind of clutsy and while the phone with the case often survives falls sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s another reason to use my phone less on vacation.

Last night after dinner I heard a lot of tires squeaking and engine roaring down the road. I went down the road to check out. πŸš™ A big old diesel 12 valve got stuck on the road shoulder. I didn’t have a tow rope and neither did he, so I gave him a ride into town. He got some of his buddies out including one with a lifted suburban with 4.11 gears to give him a little yank and he was out. πŸ”— He said he drives semi truck for work hauling phosphorus rich chicken πŸ” manure from farms in the Susquehanna Basin and Chesapeake Bay watershed. Nice distraction for the evening.

Rain for a while in the evening and had a small camp fire πŸ”₯ and grilled some burgers πŸ”. Laid back in the hammock and listened to the radio πŸ“» for a few hours. Had a lot of trouble getting the charcoal going for the burgers but slowly they cooked.

Broke the screen on my phone πŸ“±

Broke the screen on my phone πŸ“±

It slipped out of my hands when I was locking up my truck at Robert Treman State Park. Got a year out of the phone, the screen protector case saved me many times but not this time. Shit happens, it’s a $70 or maybe less phone. Not going to bitch about it or get upset. When I get home I’ll order a new one and try not to cut my finger on the glass shards in the mean time.

I thought briefly about taking my phone somewhere to get the screen replaced but that’s not cheap. I also don’t know repairable my phone is from home, I’m not very good with very small things and I’m afraid that if I take apart the glued together case or even the clips will snap. Throw away society.

Weather Update – July 27, 2021

It looks like today is going to be another fairly nice day, but I’m not moving fast πŸ¦‰as I was a night owl and stayed up late hoping see more shooting stars. ✨

I did not buy enough ice yesterday and it was a warm evening πŸŒƒ so I need to go to Dandy’s or another gas station β›½ for more ice.

I’m thinking about going to Robert Treman for a swim πŸŠπŸ»β€β™‚οΈ if gorge swimming is available even though I’m not really that big fan of it. I might in the afternoon hike at Lake Treman above Buttermilk Falls although truth be told I’m hardly ambitious. πŸ˜” It’s vacation, why hurry? I know, I should get out and do stuff before it’s done.

Wednesday if it’s not too wet β›ˆ, I am thinking of hiking part of the Finger Lakes Trail 🚢🏻 through Texas Hollow and maybe over the hill to Cayuta Lake and Connecticut Hill. Never done that before. One of these days I want to get out with the kayak πŸ›Ά maybe Seneca Lake if it’s calm.

Weather Summary
Today.
Feels like …
August 28th.
Sunny then Chance of T-storms and 80 degrees , 8:32 sunset.
Tonight.
Feels like …
August 20th.
Chance of T-storms then Chance of Showers and 60 degrees , 5:55 sunrise.
Wednesday.
Feels like …
September 21st.
Chance of Showers then Mostly Sunny and 72 degrees , 63 max dew point, 8:31 sunset.
Wednesday Night.
Feels like …
August 30th.
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance of Showers and 58 degrees , 5:56 sunrise.
Thursday.
Feels like …
September 14th.
Chance of Showers and 75 degrees , 58 max dew point, 8:30 sunset.
Thursday Night.
Feels like …
August 20th.
Chance of Showers and 60 degrees , 5:57 sunrise.
Friday.
Feels like …
September 30th.
Chance of Showers and 68 degrees , 62 max dew point, 8:29 sunset.
Friday Night.
Feels like …
September 19th.
Mostly Clear and 51 degrees , 5:58 sunrise.
Saturday.
Feels like …
September 26th.
Mostly Sunny and 70 degrees , 50 max dew point, 8:28 sunset.
Saturday Night.
Feels like …
September 3rd.
Partly Cloudy then Chance of Showers and 57 degrees , 5:59 sunrise.
Sunday.
Feels like …
September 21st.
Chance of Showers then Chance of T-storms and 72 degrees , 56 max dew point, 8:27 sunset.
Sunday Night.
Feels like …
September 9th.
Chance of T-storms then Partly Cloudy and 55 degrees , 6:00 sunrise.
Monday.
Feels like …
September 28th.
Mostly Sunny and 69 degrees , 56 max dew point, 8:25 sunset.

Good Morning – July 27, 2021

Good morning! Happy Tuesday from vacationland. πŸ–

Just another soon to be hot and possibly stormy β›ˆ summer day. Very calm and quiet this morning in the woods, I was in no hurry to get up this morning as I stayed up way past midnight looking for shooting stars 🌠. Only saw one.

Sunny and 68 degrees at the Finger Lakes National Forest. 🌞 Calm wind. The dew point is 61 degrees. I don’t have cell service here at camp, but I walked down the road where I knew that I could get a signal πŸ“Ά.

I decided to pitch the tent πŸŽͺ so I have a place to store my dirty clothing πŸ‘š and things like pots and pans 🍳. This makes it easier to move things from the front to the back of the truck.