Short trip on the FLT-Kimmie Lean-to

 What has become an annual trip with my Fraternity brother Colin, we headed to another lean-to along the Finger Lakes Trail. A few years ago Dan and I had hiked this section of trail and we had planned on staying at the Kimmie lean-to our first night. When we arrived it was occupied and the inhabitant did not seem like he was ok with sharing. The lean-to was also in disrepair and in front was rather soggy. We opted for a campsite a few hundred yards away. In the intervening years, the lean-to has since been reconstructed. Thus this orphaned lean-to along the trail was our chosen spot for me and Colin's trip. 

The parking area was just off the road and would allow us to park legally even if there was snow, we planned on shoveling if needed. Colin arrived before me as I stopped at the store to get some aluminum foil he said he needed. He was just finishing packing up when I pulled in around 10;45. The hike started off heading up hill and would contniue to gain until we were on the hill across from the lean-to. We would then descend steeply to the stream and climb a short ways to the new lean-to. There were new signs on the other side of the stream directing us.

At the lean-to we unpacked and gathered firewood. Plenty of mixed hardwoods and some pine. Temp was in the 30s and the air was still. We started the fire in the steel circle pit commonly used now. Not the greatest for cooking and campfire but I suppose safer. We needed a good bed of coals, so we got it loaded up early. We took a break then gathered some more wood. In the early afternoon we took a short hike up the hill and eventually to an old farm clearing. Along the way remnants of recent logging activity were present. Some new signs from the Land Trust which purchased property adjacent to the State Forest. We circled back around and headed back to camp.

Some more wood gathering, and eventually started dinner. We ate, socialized, reminisced, and enjoyed a few beers. As the sky darkened the stars and planets emerged. It had been a while since the sky was this clear. We knew this meant the temp would drop and we expected it to be low 20s overnight. 

Slept great. The moonlight cast some shadows in front of the lean-to when I awoke in the early morning.  When we finally got up for good the sun was already starting to brightemn the tops of the trees on the hillside across from us. Colin made us both coffee. We sipped our morning brew as the sun lit trees expanded. Eventually we packed up and headed back to the cars where Colin brewed us up another cup fro the ride home. Good time as always. Only a couple miles hiking but with some steep hills, and lean-to #160.