By Kate Hill

Staff Writer

This winter, the Friends of Stoney Pond (FROSTY) has partnered with several local organizations to groom trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing throughout the Cazenovia area.

FROSTY has groomed multiple loops at Meier’s Creek Brewing Company and Lorenzo State Historic Site, an out-and-back trail with open field loops at the Nelson Swamp Trail across from the Cazenovia transfer station, and trails at Stoney Pond State Forest in Erieville.

Grooming in Cazenovia began this winter and will continue as long as the snowpack allows. FROSTY volunteers generally groom on Fridays in Cazenovia; grooming at Stoney Pond tends to be more frequent.

FROSTY is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that serves as Stoney Pond’s stewardship organization for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Volunteer Stewardship Program.

The organization was formed a few years ago under the leadership of FROSTY President Peter Radosta, who lives near the state forest with his wife, Karen Storne.

“A few years ago, when mountain biking on the Stoney Pond State Forest trails, it occurred to me that I had to jump off the bike several times each ride to dodge fallen trees, overgrowth, sticker bushes, and poison ivy,” said Radosta. “Years prior, the trails were maintained by Camp Georgetown, and once that facility closed, the trails became overgrown becoming nearly unusable . . . I approached the DEC about its statewide volunteer stewardship program, which led to the formation of [FROSTY].”

According to Radosta, FROSTY initially performed summertime maintenance at the park, organizing volunteers for brush cutting, trail clearing, installing puncheon, making trail signs, and completing other improvements to the trails.

Once the trail network was reestablished, the DEC issued a special permit to FROSTY to enable mechanized grooming in the state forest, where motors are otherwise prohibited.

“DEC is grateful for the projects implemented by Friends of Stoney Pond State Forest to improve public recreation along the 13-mile trail system . . .” said DEC Senior Forester Gregory Owens. “Volunteer participation in the organization and trail use at Stoney Pond have both increased since the partnership began in 2018. Recreation management and work planning on Stoney Pond State Forest is guided by the Tioughnioga State Forest Unit Management Plan and implemented through a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement (VSA) between FROSTY and DEC. The VSA program encourages community-based conservation and provides opportunities for volunteers to participate in state forest management in their areas.”

According to Radosta, the trails are groomed using a tracked-ATV, which tows a variety of grooming tools, including a snow roller, snow compactor, and track-setter.

“The magic is in the art, not the science,” Radosta said. “Volunteer groomers are continually learning about how to set up the equipment with varying snow and weather conditions . . . Since snow conditions are unpredictable, FROSTY volunteers are on standby to groom at optimal times.”

After noticing an increase in wintertime trail usage at Stoney Pond, Radosta started to think of other trail networks in need of grooming.

“While un-groomed trails have great appeal for many outdoor enthusiasts, the widespread use has been on groomed trails, so why not discover more places to groom?” he said. “And with so many Cazenovians skiing and snowshoeing at Stoney Pond, it was compelling to expand closer to Caz.”

According to Radosta, the Cazenovia-area venues were identified in partnership with other local organizations interested in enhancing opportunities for outdoor recreation, like Lorenzo, Meier’s Creek, and the North Country Trail Association — the stewardship organization responsible for the Nelson Swamp Trail.

Currently, FROSTY is searching for other regional opportunities to offer snow-grooming services; it is also providing technical guidance on preparing trail networks for grooming.

Long-term, the organization hopes to facilitate a contiguous trail network throughout the varied landscapes of southern Madison County.

“Imagine being able to hop on a trail in Cazenovia and ski continuously to New Woodstock, Erieville, or Morrisville,” said Radosta. “Sounds adventurous, but the objective isn’t for long-distance skiing, it’s to establish a corridor, similar to the Erie Canal Trail or Finger Lakes Trail . . . Partnering with other trails-based organizations, private landowners, and businesses, and with support of elected officials, will enable expansion to other trail networks, and the establishment of regional trail corridors. Overall, the reward is seeing individuals and families from near and far recreating outdoors year-round, and especially in winter; that’s what FROSTY is all about.”

Nelson Town Supervisor Jim Cunningham said he appreciates FROSTY’s efforts to enhance the area’s valuable recreational resources.

“Our trails [offer] multi-user and multi-purpose outdoor opportunities covering a wide range of year-round activities,” he said. “The Town of Nelson is fortunate to not only retain miles of hiking trails but also a large network of snowmobile trails, equestrian trails, and mountain biking trails along with three pristine lakes that provide fishing and boating opportunities. Our volunteers have worked endless hours to provide well-designed and maintained trails that also preserve the rural and scenic quality of our township.”

According to Cunningham, Nelson’s recreational assets benefit not only the people who use them, but also the town itself.

“A very large percentage of the Town of Nelson lands are owned by the State of New York and open for public activities,” he said. “Attracting visitors to use these public assets is one of the town’s goals. I’m amazed by how many out-of-state license plates I have spotted parked at our trailheads — clearly showing that the [Frosty grooming team] developed and maintains quality trails. These trails hold tremendous potential for economic and community development by generating positive economic impact, fueling the local tourism industry. Visitors boost the local economy by purchasing food, fuel and gear, staying at local hotels, and dining at our restaurants.”

Trail condition updates are sent out periodically. To receive updates or grooming maps, send a request to [email protected].

To access Stoney Pond State Forest from State Route 20 in Nelson, head south on the Erieville Rd for approximately two miles. Turn left onto Old State Rd, heading east. In approximately 2.5 miles, head south on Jones Rd to the State Forest. Stoney Pond State Forest features two parking areas on Jones Rd and one on Stony Pond Rd.

To reach the Nelson Swamp Trailhead, take State Route 20 east from the Village of Cazenovia to Stone Quarry Rd. Proceed south on Stone Quarry Rd for 2.2 miles and the trailhead is on the left.

Meier’s Creek is located at 33 Rippleton Rd and Lorenzo State Historic Site is located just up the road at 17 Rippleton Rd.

For more information on the DEC’s Volunteer Stewardship Program, visit dec.ny.gov.