On Saturday, January 18, Patricia Riddell Kent and Steve Kent will host a Winter/Snowshoe Hike at the Robert V. Riddell State Park. Heading out at noon, the Kents (the donors of the state park land) will lead a leisurely winter excursion to Mud Lake and back.
This hike, on moderate grade terrain up South Hill and then back down to the starting point, will take about 3-1/2 hours to complete, with the option to return to the parking lot at any time. Snowshoes are optional if the snow is not too deep and participants are comfortable walking. Highlights of the hike are waterfalls along the way and Mud Lake, a sphagnum bog, at the top of South Hill.
Directions: Meet on Gersoni Road, just south of I-88’s Exit 17. If taking Exit 17 traveling east, make a right at the off ramp stop sign onto Gersoni Road. When taking Exit 17 traveling west, make a left and go under the I-88 overpass to access Gersoni Road. Parking is available on the shoulder of Gersoni Road just south of I-88 – watch for small green signs that read “State Park Lands.” For more information about the hike, contact OCCA by calling(607) 282-4087 or e-mail OCCA Program Director Jeff O’Handley at programdirector@occainfo.org.
Since 2001, the Otsego County Conservation Association has organized and/or co-sponsored nature walks on local trails. OCCA is a private, non-profit environmental membership organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation and sustainable use of Otsego County’s natural resources through education, advocacy, resource management, research, and planning. For more information on OCCA, or to support programming, call (607) 547-4488 or visit www.occainfo.org.