Ithaca/Watkins Glen Revisited

“It's a month-long trip........I dunno”

“About five years ago the company I work for had a project for me in our Rochester plant. For several weekends when I wasn't working I drove all over the Finger Lakes region including Watkins Glen and every winery I could find. I loved the place and couldn't believe how much the countryside reminded me of the rolling hills of South Carolina. Their were some differences. Our soil is red, their soil was black. Our land prices were $5000 to $10000 an acre and their land prices back a mile from the lakes were as low as $1500 an acre! What amazed me were the number of abandoned farms back in the countryside. I talked to the owner of one vineyard and he was telling me that the Amish church was buying land and the leasing it to Amish farmers. Since the church doesn't pay taxes they were making out like bandits. He said that the land prices were cheap but no one could afford the NY state taxes. And my biggest surprise were the wines. I had always thought that NY wines were always sweet, foxy tasting dreck. But I went to some wineries where a lot of money had been spent and they were turning out some very nice grape juice indeed! I'm going to dig out my giant Finger Lakes map cause if you're going that way you gotta hit some of the vineyards shown on that map. Take some dough with you though. No Two Buck Chuck to be found.”

“Any word on this?

Maybe we could fossil hunt while up there too?”

“[b]this is my first post -reading up on your ithaca trips-one place i did not hear mentioned is fingerlakes national forest-the flnf is almost centrally located between ithaca,watkins glen,and taughannock falls-30 miles of trails-a group campground that can be reserved-you can make all the noise you want to here-nothing close by-day trips to the other 3 places is easy from the flnf-backpacking trips can be done here-or day hikes from the campground-this is a pretty area more remote than ithaca-the trails are easy to mederate-this also would be a good day trip from ithaca-the fingerlakes trail runs into the flnf-their website is www.fs.fedus/r9/gmfl-”

“i would like a lot to go back i had a great time in the summer i would like if it was from fri to sun though”

“i think we shoiuld go the 27th and stay till the 30th memoril day work is closed”

“I'm really glad you enjoyedthe trip, Boy Everest! I would very much like to bring you back with us. Memorial day is a good suggestion, but may be rough, as it conflicts with a trip that I need to take with the scouts here. That's why I am having trouble scheduling this one in May. It might have to be postponed until June. But, it will be at least 3 days, if not four and I will make it so you can go, alright?”

“its not big to me when we go i just want to go back june is nicer anyway”

“Great! I will keep you posted...”

“thanks tree”

“we should do carcamping”

“i'm thinking that's the plan?”

“i think me & the boys will be at Treman park from Friday June 10th (really late eta)to Monday the 13th.”

“Enfield Glen is another nice one. See pix at my webshots page listed some posts back.”

“can you post a link Geo?”

“It's on this thread above.”

“Helinka, enjoy your time there. I really want to go back. But, circumstances came up that forced me to abort the original plans of getting up there this time of year. I am going to try for a re-schedule in the fall, maybe. Have a great time, though...”

“I'm headed to Watkins Glen on Saturday to tour some wineries. I'm free on Sunday and the weather's supposed to clear up. Is 1/2 enough time to do some hiking in the Park?
Any locals have suggestions as to where to eat in the area? I'm staying about 4 miles north of W G. Thanks!”

“1/2 what?

1/2 day is plenty of time.

1/2 hour will let you tour the lower part of the glen.”

“whoops. 1/2 day. It's about a 5 hour drive back home so I figured I can spend part of the day before heading home.”

“You could see Buttermilk Falls in 1/2 a day - its really cool and the gorge just keeps going and going and going and going,”

“He's staying in Watkins Glen, so that would be the better one.

Pix of WG start on second page: http://community.webshots.com/album/164932056ccujGW”

“great pics. after a day of wine I'm not sure how much hiking I'll do but, it looks like some great sites to see.”

“Yeah, well, if you drink too much wine the challenge will be not to fall in.”

“Plus you can walk as much of the falls as you want and turn back. It's definitely worth whatever time you want to put into it!

Gawd, I love that place!!! Makes me want to plan another trip there. Spring, anyone???? Hmmm....”

“OK. I'll do what I can on Sunday. The weather's suppossed to be good. I'll drink wine and watch Penn State win on Sat, then hike Sunday! Sounds like a great weekend.”

“Enjoy, Spike!!!”

“spike- about 10 miles north of w.g. is my stomping grounds-fingerlakes national forest its not nearly as dramatic, but is a nice place to hike and camp(Idont get to w.g. much because they dont allow dogs)I know you say you dont have much time, but I thought I would offer to show you around if you desire.”

“ifyou hike Watkins Glen all the way to the end, you'll have the pleasure of climbing the 476 stair steps up out of the gorge!!

That was geobeets favorite part!”

“Buzzzzzzzzz - WRONG!

My favorite part was, having climbed the 7,294 steps, hearing Tango's soft voice filling the air, screeching out, "Flyers Suck!"”

“It's a long way from Utah, but I also loved hiking the entire length of Watkins Glen. I've never seen anything quite like it.

”