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Winter Hike at Mendon Ponds Park, ROC area

  • 19 Dec 2021
  • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Pittsford, NY near Honeoye Falls
  • 24

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  • Events are limited to paid members of Women Outdoors.

Registration is closed

Join Margaret for this hike

West Esker Trail in Mendon Ponds Park, 1.5 miles, rated: easy

While we do not have snow for skiing yet, let’s take a winter hike! Marked by orange trail blazes, this trail can be accessed directly from either of two parking lots. We will be meeting and accessing the trail from a small parking lot close to the Hopkins Point Road is a park road entrance to the park. (Hopkins Point Road is closed right after this parking lot as it does each winter and will be reopened again in the spring.)

Unfortunately, access to the bathrooms is only seasonal so please plan ahead or be prepared to take a bio break off trail.

Description of West Esker Trail: The western side of the main loop follows a long wooded ridge, an esker formed by glaciers, which provides many great views this time of year with the leaves off the trees. At the south turn of the loop, one of the best known hills of the park, Cardiac Hill, makes for a very steep but relatively short climb that is popular for runners and off-season cross country skiers training hill repeats. We will be going down this hill. Following the east side of the main loop counterclockwise, the trail makes its way more gradually back up to the top of the ridge.

If anyone is interested in hiking more, we can either hike around some off-shoots of the West Esker Trail. I started exploring some of these off-shoots last weekend, these off-shoots have lots of hills, so if you like using poles – you may want them for this part of the hike. Alternately, we could select another trail such as the Quaker Pond Trail.

Link to a PDF trail map of Mendon Ponds Park:

https://www.monroecounty.gov/files/parks/Maps/mendonpondstrail.pdf

This event is limited to 25 members

No dogs please, to better allow us to spot wildlife.

Bring:

  • A mask - required for unvaccinated, optional/recommended for everyone else. 
  • Recommended: water, warm boots/trail runners, hat, gloves
  • Optional: walking poles, micro spikes, lunch/snack, camera, binoculars
Although there has been no snow to date, two or three inches of snow is predicted for Saturday, the day before the hike; high temperature for Sunday is forecast to be 29 degrees F. Please dress for the weather; dressing in layers is encouraged.

    Are you vaccinated? Please let us know when you register. Based on that response, we can tailor appropriate CDC safety protocols for this meeting.

    Address will be in your registration confirmation email.  

    COVID-19 Update 

    Until further notice, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have adopted these updated rules for all events. 

    • We encourage all of our members get one of the COVID-19 vaccinations.
    • Events are for paid members only - You can join now by clicking on Join Us.
    • You must agree to our COVID-19 Safety Agreement & Assumption of Risk Statement during the registration process.
    • Attendance limits and vaccine requirements may differ for each event. Please read the restrictions in the event description.
    • We will ask if you have been vaccinated. This information will help us determine rules for a particular event.
    • Physical Distancing and Masks: If all attendees agree, the group may elect to dispense with keeping a 6 feet distance and wearing a mask.
    • Indoor events are restricted to public events, and we will follow the rules of the hosting organization.

    *** RSVP and Cancellations – IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ ***

    Please respect the trip leader and other members and update your RSVP if you sign-up but then are unable to attend. Events may be cancelled due to lack of attendance, as well as changes in weather or other circumstances. If you must cancel at the last minute, call or text the event host/trip leader (see your registration confirmation for contact details) and let her know who it is who is calling/texting. Be sure to copy down the address, directions, and trip leader contact information to bring with you as there might not be good cell service at the event location.

    To Cancel: Go to your  Registration List

    • Click on this event in your list
    • Click on the Already registered link under the REGISTER button.
    • At the next page that opens with your registration form, click on the CANCEL REGISTRATION button, and then again click on Cancel Registration on the pop-up form.
    • Ignore the link to contact the administrator

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