Walkers, snowshoers, cross country skiers enjoyed Phillips Creek State Forest
By Heather Wakeley, IMPACT
IMPACT’s First Day Hike attracted 57 winter enthusiasts who braved single-digit temperatures on January 1st to hike freshly groomed trails in Phillips Creek State Forest.
“Our event was a great success” said Glenn Gebhard, IMPACT’s president. “We have more snow than we’ve seen in years, and thanks to our volunteers the trails are in really good shape.”
After assembling at 10:30 am at the Phillips Creek State Forest entrance on State Route 244, the hikers—including a few snowshoers and skiers—divided into four groups to traverse trails of varying lengths. Trail guides included IMPACT board members Glenn Gebhard, Pauline Burnes, and Heather Wakeley, and DEC Forest Ranger Justin Thaine.
Parks & Trails New York, the nonprofit that sponsors “first walks” across the state, and the principal funder of IMPACT’s recent improvements on Trail 3, sent bandanas and rechargeable headlamps for distribution to the hikers.
IMPACT’s next public events are the evening walks scheduled for February 7 at 5:30 and March 7 at 5:45 when moonlight will illuminate the woods. Headlamps are required.
IMPACT is a nonprofit “friends” group that works with Allegany County’s DEC Foresters to maintain, improve, and build trails in the county’s state forests and on other public lands, for the enjoyment of hikers, equestrians, skiers, nature lovers, campers, and others.
For more information about IMPACT, to become a member, or to make a donation, go to impactfriendsgroup.org
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