Weather or Not Cadwell Loop Trail, Pittsford, February 11, 2023

by Sue Thomas

This past winter it seemed Mother Nature was having a nervous breakdown – swinging wildly from -20 to 45 degrees overnight, producing more rain than snow, and starting the sap flowing a month earlier than usual. I’m sure the poor groundhog was as befuddled as the rest of us – six more weeks of this? Yikes!

Windchill of -40 degrees cancelled our annual hot dog roast, and the following week warm weather and rain followed by a freeze threatened to do in the Cadwell Loop hike. But the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and five of us bravely donned our spikes and set out on the icy trail.

This lovely short loop trail begins and ends at a covered bridge, and follows along Otter Creek and Furnace Brook, crossing fields with sweeping views of mountains and farms. In years with more snow, animal tracks are usually numerous, as well as otter slides along the riverbank. Well, no otters this year, but good company, bright sunshine and beautiful scenery made it a great hike.