Cascadilla Gorge status

For anyone who hasn't seen the status updates (from a while back) in the Cornell Daily Sun or on the Cornell Plantations website, the re-construction of the Gorge Trail along Cascadilla Gorge is still incomplete.

Indeed, the trail abruptly ends in the section underneath the Stewart Ave. bridge. (It would help to put up a "no alternative exit" sign or something.) It's only about a 10-minute walk to the barrier, but it's still a nice little hike right by downtown.

Weekend events

It's Cornell's graduation weekend, so be prepared for the influx of out-of-town family and friends. Not too many events to highlight this weekend, but next week will be busy (Ithaca Festival!). Have a great Memorial Day weekend! (See Ithaca Journal for Memorial Day events around town).


Saturday May 28

"Herp" (reptiles and amphibians) hike with the Cayuga Trails Club, led by Tom Reimers. 9 am at Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) trailhead and Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) Sweedler Preserve at Lick Brook, Lower Entrance access (map). Learn to look for and identify herps along the way.

Check out the botanical garden in the Plantations and their new Welcome Center. Parking is free, and the Cornell parents and graduating students are probably still at the ceremony.


Sunday May 29

Spring Bird Quest (event 1 of 3). 8 am. Guided Bird Walk at the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve in West Danby, Tompkins County. Mark Chao will lead walks through a "diversity of habitats including wetlands, open fields, and mature forest." Free but donations are encouraged.


Monday 30

Spring Bird Quest (event 2 of 3). 6:30 am. Early Morning Bird Walk in the Goetchius Wetland Preserve, Caroline. A large, unique wetland complex promises a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. Free but donations are encouraged.

Spring Bird Quest (event 3 of 3). 8:30 am. Guided Bird Walk in the Roy H. Park Preserve, Dryden. Successional fields and mature forest host a diversity of bird species. Free but donations are encouraged.

Tortoise & Hare Trail Run

Post-race update: Results of the 2011 run can be found here.

The 2011 edition of the Tortoise & Hare Trail Run will happen on Saturday June 4. This is a 10+km run on the trails of Buttermilk Falls State Park, which means that it's super close for those in Ithaca and the trails are typically very runnable! There's also a FREE 1-mile fun run around the Larch Meadow Trail.

When/Where: June 4, registration at 8 am, race starts at 9 am. Buttermilk Falls State Park.

Registration form here. $5 (cheap!!!) if postmarked by May 28, $10 thereafter. One-mile fun run is free (see below). Note: The state park charges parking fees ($7 typically). Carpooling or cycling (suggested route) is probably your best bet.

The run is 10.8 km and is one of the more beginner-friendly trail runs around. Participants will be running on dirt and mud and over roots and rocks, but it's mostly not very technical. After a 1-mile loop on the Larch Meadow Trail to spread out the crowd, the course goes up a steep hill on which almost everyone will have to walk at some point. The rest of the run is almost flat or downhill, with just some short inclines. Overall, this is a really enjoyable course and a great way to enjoy this beautiful state park.

Weekend events

Have a great weekend, everyone! The nearby state parks are all open now, and most of the trails are open (not the Upper Treman Gorge Trail).


Saturday May 21

LIFA Soccer Academy soccer tournament, Cass Park, May 21 & 22. Team or individual fees apply. Email them for information.

Birdwatching at Six Mile Creek. Saturday, May 21. 7 - 9 am. Led by Meena Haribal. Meet in the parking lot of the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve. Bring binoculars!

Ithaca Junior Olympics -- track and field meet for boys and girls ages 5-12 at Ithaca High School. (100, 200, 400 and 800 m run, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus) See the Ithaca Youth Bureau newsletter (pg. 2) for details. Walk-in registration at 8:30 am, $5.


Sunday May 22

The Cornell Plantations is celebrating the grand opening of the Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center (map of location) with a day of family-friendly events. 11 am - 4 pm. Activities include garden and Welcome Center tours, live music and children activities. Free and open to the public. (See also: Ithaca Times and Ithaca Journal articles.)

Join the Cayuga Birding Club for a guided birding walk in Griggs Gulf State Forest, near Harford Mills. Meet at 7:30 am at the forest or at 7:00 am at the Lab of Ornithology to carpool to the tour location. Contact the guide/organizers for details.

Ithaca Festival Mile

The Ithaca Festival is less than three weeks away! Other than all the great family fun and rockin' music, there's one event in the schedule that we want to draw your attention to -- the Festival Mile!

The Festival Mile is scheduled to take place at 6 pm on Thursday June 2, just before the parade (at 6:30 pm). This is a flat 1-mile run on Cayuga St. from Ithaca High School to Dewitt Park. The course is certified and the event is timed. Proceeds benefit the Youth Bureau Scholarship fund.

You can register here for $10 (or $17 if you want a T-shirt; $7 for youth). When we checked just now, 86 people have already registered -- that's already more than last year's individual count!

Don't forget that this is also the culmination event for the Kids' Marathon Miles Challenge. Last year, over 200 people ran in the family heat. We hope to see even more youth runners and their families on Cayuga St. on June 2 this year. Note: must be at least 5 years old to run.

More registration details:
- Register by Monday, May 16th to order T-shirts
- Register by Wednesday, May 25th for the discounted entry fee and to avoid race day lines (shirts are no longer available).
- Register on Race Day - June 2nd 4:30 - 5:30 PM sharp, Ithaca High School, Cayuga Street side!! Entry fee increases to $15 for race heats, $8 for Family heat.
- Paper registrations are available at the Ithaca Youth Bureau, 1 James L. Gibbs Dr. and at the Finger Lakes Running and Triathlon Company Store on the Commons.

Last year's results can be found here. Pictures from Steve Gallow here. A race report for the 2010 race by Liz Vance of the Ithaca Youth Bureau in the Finger Lakes Runners Club here.

Weekend events

The Finger Lakes Cycling Club rides are in full swing. Join their email list for announcements.

Check out this workout calendar set up by Nick Lehecka of the Finger Lakes Running and Triathlon Company and Ithaca Triathlon Club members for other workouts and activities to join. (Note: Many ITC activities are for members only.)


Friday May 13

Meet new people at Ithaca Freeskool social tonight (Friday) at Buffalo St. Books, 7-10 pm, and find out what classes they'll be offering this summer. Past classes have included Tai Chi, dancing, bike tune-ups, self defense, and much much much more.


Saturday May 14

Celebrate bird migration with the Lab of Ornithology. From 10 am to 3 pm, there will be activities for the whole family at the Lab of O surrounding the theme "Go Wild -- Go Birding!" Admission is free.

It's Community Day at the Museum of the Earth, which means admission is free! Get yourself and the kids excited about nature by checking our their exhibits and fun activities.


Sunday May 15

Join Karen Serbonich of the Cayuga Trails Club on a hike on the Finger Lakes Trail in Cortland County. Meet at 7:30 am at Triphammer Mall for carpooling to the hike location.

Tom Reimers will lead a leisurely hike through the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve primarily to identify birds and bird songs and calls. Meet at 8:30 am for carpooling at the Ithaca Shopping Center parking lot or at 9:00 am at the Lindsay Parsons Biodiversity Preserve (map).

Enjoy some outdoor time and help the Shindaigin Hollow Association of Trailbuilders with their trail work starting at 10 am. Details here.

Weekend events

The Guthrie soccer tournament (coed) is scheduled to happen this weekend. Check their website for the latest updates, especially in light of the high Cayuga Lake water levels. Independent players can still play (bring money). Women are especially in demand.

Have a great weekend! Please be careful near flooding areas! It's also the first weekend of the Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale :)


Saturday May 7

The 2nd annual Community Wellness Day in Ithaca will take place at the Ithaca High School from noon to 3 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public. There will be activities for all ages and "will feature more than 50 local businesses and organizations, FREE fresh healthy food, yoga and tai chi classes, face painting, XBox Kinect contests, live music, car seat safety inspections, free document shredding, bike helmet fittings, and much more!"

Hike the trails in Treman State Park with the Cayuga Trails Club. Meet at 10:00 am, Ithaca Shopping Plaza behind Taco Bell.

Thom Bugliosi 13k/26k trail run at Hammond Hill State Forest. This is the first FLRC trail race/run of the year! See event page for directions. Arrive well before 9:45 am to register or pick up your number. Modest entry fees include aid station and post-race refreshments.

Panther Prowl 5k run at TC3 campus. 8 am! Brochure here.


Sunday May 8

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

Cayuga Trails Club leads an 8-mile hike on the Cayuga Trail. Meet at 8:00 am, Flat Rocks parking area, Forest Home Drive.

Join the Cornell Plantations and the Lab of Ornithology on a guided Wildflower Walk in Sapsucker Woods. Meet at 1 pm at Sapsucker Woods. Free and open to the public.

Weekend events

The Guthrie soccer tournament (coed) is scheduled to happen this weekend. Check their website for the latest updates, especially in light of the high Cayuga Lake water levels. Independent players can still play (bring money). Women are especially in demand.

Have a great weekend! Please be careful near flooding areas! It's also the first weekend of the Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale :)


Saturday May 7

The 2nd annual Community Wellness Day in Ithaca will take place at the Ithaca High School from noon to 3 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public. There will be activities for all ages and "will feature more than 50 local businesses and organizations, FREE fresh healthy food, yoga and tai chi classes, face painting, XBox Kinect contests, live music, car seat safety inspections, free document shredding, bike helmet fittings, and much more!"

Hike the trails in Treman State Park with the Cayuga Trails Club. Meet at 10:00 am, Ithaca Shopping Plaza behind Taco Bell.

Thom Bugliosi 13k/26k trail run at Hammond Hill State Forest. This is the first FLRC trail race/run of the year! See event page for directions. Arrive well before 9:45 am to register or pick up your number. Modest entry fees include aid station and post-race refreshments.

Panther Prowl 5k run at TC3 campus. 8 am! Brochure here.


Sunday May 8

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

Cayuga Trails Club leads an 8-mile hike on the Cayuga Trail. Meet at 8:00 am, Flat Rocks parking area, Forest Home Drive.

Join the Cornell Plantations and the Lab of Ornithology on a guided Wildflower Walk in Sapsucker Woods. Meet at 1 pm at Sapsucker Woods. Free and open to the public.