The Road Less Travelled-A Series
Pharsalia Woods NY State Forest-#1
I recently spent an afternoon cross country skiing and exploring this huge forest here in Central New York. Over 9100 acres! I will have to return to take in the vastness of this area. Multiple times.
I had been here before about 7 years ago helping one of the Boy Scouts in my Troop work on his Eagle Scout project, which was improving signage along the Fingerlakes Trail that passes through this forest. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
I covered a little over 3 miles on my skis, which for this 62-year-old body was a good workout. So peaceful, so quiet. Oh, there were a few snowmobiles along the Pharsalia freeway, but the quiet quickly returned after the friendly waving riders passed by.
Growing up I spent a lot of time snowmobiling in the foothills of the Catskill mountains where I grew up, near Roscoe, NY. Some day I would like to experience that again, but that is for another story.
On this day I started my outing on what is known as Coy Street, which runs through the forest to the bustling “town” of North Pharsalia, population 570. The term street makes it sound impressive. It is actually a seasonal road, which means no maintenance during winter, a dirt road.
However excellent for hiking, biking, skiing, and snowmobiling. The snowmobilers are my friend, as they create an excellent skiing surface. Most of the NY State Forests are utilized by the snowmobile clubs for an extensive trail system. Works for me. It also means that the trails/roads are cleared of fallen trees and debris on a regular basis.
I skied Coy Street for a good healthy mile. It was beautiful. Snow stuck to the trees like cotton candy. If only the sun was out. But still stunning none the less. It was fairly flat. These days I tend to shy away from the big downgrades as I try to limit the spills I take. I do still enjoy an occasional burst of speed.
Next, I came to the intersection with what is known as the CCC Truck Trail, or the Nine Mile Truck Trail. Also known as the Pharsalia Freeway. It is wide and fairly level as it traverses through the forest. I will come back in the summer with my bike to explore.
For those unfamiliar, CCC represents the Civilian Conservation Corps, started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. This was a national voluntary public work relief program that ran until 1942. It was for unmarried unemployed men ages 17 to 28. The purpose was for employment during the Great Depression, and for the conservation and development of public lands.
There was a CCC camp in this forest, as there were quite a few scattered across NY State and the country. They planted millions of trees and managed the land.
I skied about a quarter-mile in each direction, just to get a taste, then returned on Coy Street back towards my car. I also explored a short section of another side trail, which I think is a connector to Fred Stewart Road, which parallels Coy Street. There are many roads in this forest.
There is much more to explore here. There is the remainder of the Truck Trail. There is a cemetery for Revolutionary War heroes.
A walkway and observation platform overlooks Round Pond, a 90-acre wetland area, which is home to a population of Sandhill Cranes (rare in New York State)and several protected plants including the carnivorous Pitcher Plant.
My work here is not complete, for I will return to continue exploring.
