Victor Hiking Trails, Victor, N.Y.

VHT Pages:

Trail Maps & Descriptions

Calendar

Newsletter - Current

Photo Album

Auburn Trail Improvements and Connections

News:

10/21/08 Auburn Trail Extension Project Design Report October 2008 is now available on line through this link or via the Auburn Trail Improvements and Connections Project's page.

10/5/08 Seneca Trail Bridge Open The bridge by Dryer Rd, behind the RG&E sub-station is open again. Thanks to Chauncy Young, master bridge builder, and his crew, it is better than ever and open. Work has to yet be done on railings. (The props will be removed when the new railing adds support strength.) With the help of GROC (Victor Mountain Bike Club) the bridge was moved from where it had washed down stream to its new, higher, wider, and stronger foundations.

GROC will also be helping make the trail bed on the hill side wider. New signs will be posted warning that the trail is "steap, slippery, and has sharp turns," and to dismount from bikes. New approach ramps have been added that also have a sharp turn and can be expected to be slippery for bike tires.

Thank you GROC. Another example of the Victor Community working together to improve it for all.

Another, much smaller, bridge on the Seneca Trail has also been replaced. This is behind the golf driving range, off of route 251.

10/1/08 EMS Club Day Sale The Eastern Mountain Sports store at Pittsford Plaza is having their annual Club Day Sale on October 17-18. Show them your VHT membership card and get 20% off everything in the store. Not a member? No problem. You can join for $10 between now and Oct. 16. We will mail you your card. Or sign up at the store and get the discount. Look for our display at the store. Poster

Spring 2008 Newsletter is available online.

10/1/08 Auburn and Lehigh Trails Update Are looking GREAT! And getting a lot of use. Work is nearly complete. Paved wider shoulders have been added to both sides of East Victor Rd., and one side of Break of Day Rd. for the part of the Auburn that is on the road. The grass shoulders of the rest have had top soil spread and seeded. Most of the signs have been installed. Many benches have been installed. The two plazas are in with the kiosks. Those signs and bike racks are still to come.

Lehigh Trail east from the Trestle over the Auburn Trail to Lehigh Crossing Park is cleared. Most is the base large ballast stone. It is waiting for the two more layers of stone to make it comfortable for use.

Auburn Extension: Fishers to Perinton & Powder Mills Park -- Design work is in progress; construction will commence in ’09.

Welcome to the Victor Hiking Trails, Inc. official Homepage!
Your contribution will help establish a network of hiking trails in the town of Victor.

We are a grassroots organization that began exploratory meetings in the fall of 1991. We have accomplished a lot, but we still have much work ahead of us. We currently have over 20-miles of open trails. These include well connected multi-use rails-to-trails, secluded woodland rambles, stream side walks, and longer cross-town hiking trails. Some connect various town and state parks, others exist by themselves. In addition, we are actively scouting out possible sites and negotiating with land owners and developers for permission of public access to their property. Our purpose is to develop a trail system which will preserve open space and provide an educational and recreational experience for everyone in the town of Victor.

We the People: Involved in Victor Hiking Trails are kindred spirits. People who care about the land on which they live. People who enjoy nature in all its bounty. People who want to improve their town and leave something that will add value to our lives. People like you. We welcome you among us. We meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM in the Victor Town Hall at 85 East Main Street. Meetings are informal and everyone is welcome. Please try to join us, you can get to know us better.

VISION

• Create and maintain foot trails in the Town of Victor.
• Promote a meaningful relationship with nature.
• Promote individual responsibility for protecting the environment.
• Provide recreational activity through walking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing.
• Provide education to the public through nature interpretation, historical information and proper use of trails.
• Promote good relationships with all people (landowners, government officials, adjacent townships, and trail users).

• Trails of various terrain, landforms, views and habitats for various plant and animal species.
• Trails in various geographic sections of the Town of Victor with access by as many residents as possible.
• Trails of various lengths and difficulties.

Dave Wright - Chairperson

Jeff Hennick - Vice-Chairperson & WebMaster

Nat Fisher - Secretary

Chauncy Young - Treasurer

Carol MacInnes - Trail Master

Larry Fisher - Trail Boss

Roberta Lockwood - Historian

Ruth Nellis - Education

Dave Coleman - Membership

HISTORY

• 1980's - Conservation Board initiates concept.
• Summer of 1991 - Town Board approves concept
• September 24, 1991 - First organized meeting
• May, 1992 - Incorporated in New York State
• September 18, 1993 - First trail opened
• June 16, 1994 - Tax exempt status approved by Federal Government
• September 17, 1994 - First Bridge Walk(Fund Raiser)

• Enjoy nature.
• Care about the land.
• Want to improve Victor.

• Hikes - Second Saturday each month and two weekends each year
• Maintenance - Usually One weeknight and two weekend mornings each week
• Meetings - Third Thursday each month 7:30 p.m. at Victor Town Hall

How You Can Help
We need assistance in a myriad of areas. Join us at a meeting and volunteer your services.

Some of the needs (but by no means all) that we have are:

• lead hikes
• draw maps
• measure trail lengths
• make and install signs
• build trails, bridges and boardwalks
• build map boxes
• identify trees,flowers and birds (Monkey Run, example)
• illustrate
• take photos
• write articles for our newsletter and the Town newsletter
• collect donated items
• work on a committee
• recruit new members
• work on a fund raiser
• scout possible trail locations
• help with paperwork
• make phone calls

We'll create more opportunities as we grow. Maybe you can provide a skill or interest we need but haven't even thought of yet. You will be surprised how skilled you are. Join us and put your talents and interests to work.

Annual membership dues are:

• $10.00 Supporting Membership
  $20.00 Contributing Membership
  $100 Trailblazer Membership
  $250 Path Builder Membership.

If you join or renew at the $20.00 level or above, you can sign up a friend or neighbor for free.

Other donations needed by Victor Hiking Trails

Services:

• a storage facility to store donated tools and supplies
  
• expertise in small engine maintenance
  
• map production and copying
  
• ability to build trail-head map housings

  Tools:
  

• post hole digger
  
• sledge hammer
  
• maul
  
• clippers
  
• loppers
  
• pruning shears
  
• shovels
  
• hatchets
  
• hammers
  
• hand saws

  Equipment:
  

• bush hog
  
• chain saws
  
• mowers
  
• weed whackers

  Misc.:
  

• gas cans (2.5 gallon only)
  
• funnels
  
• safety goggles
  
• plastic garbage bags (for collecting trash and litter)
  
• water proofing such as Cuprinol
  
• money (always handy)
  
• pressure treated planks (to build bridges)
  
• pressure treated wood (to build map housings)
  
• nuts & bolts
  
• Plexiglas (to cover signs)
  
• exterior grade plywood
  
• first-aid kit