Report by Linda Pearce. A very pleasant morning awaited the twenty-six hikers that met to walk the trails at Fetterley Forest on the east side of Canadarago Lake near Richfield Springs. Fetterley Forest is an Otsego Land Trust property and was one of the hikes that was included in the Summer Challenge of Otsego Outdoors. For several hikers this completed the eight required to obtain a badge. As we started up Roses Hill Road, Bailey Pond was on our left, and at the top of the hill we reached the entrance to the trail. A short distance in we took a side trail that led us to a small vernal pond. As we continued on the trail, we were noticing the many ferns that flourish there. On a previous hike with a botanist, thirteen varieties of ferns were identified. At the west side of the trail, a nice overlook area opened up to a vista of the lake and Deowonga Island. Following the 2.5 mile hike, many of us stopped at a nearby restaurant for lunch and/or ice cream to complete our morning outing.
Photos by Scott Fielder, Betsy O’Brien and Irene Jervis.
Susquehanna Chapter 