Watery Wednesday: Sauntering Chimney Bluffs

CHIMNEY BLUFFS STATE PARK WOLCOTT NY NEAR SODUS BAY ALONG LAKE ONTARIO

The park showplaces an eroded drumlin in central New York. Drumlins were formed by the great glaciers from about twelve thousand years ago. According to geologists there are about 10,000 drumlins near Lake Ontario. As far as I know there is only one Drumlins golf course!

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Drumlins are scattered throughout the area and appear to be smallish, elongated hills.

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These spires and chimneys can be as high as 150 ft. Walking at their base along the lake shore is humbling. The erosion of the drumlin is quicker than plants can grow to stablize the slopes.

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Old tree trunks, cobblestones and clay actually make an interesting mosaic.

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From the shore to the top is a long way, all stairs, too many stairs. But the view from the top is worth the sweat, as the two pictures at the start show. The kayaker gives some perspective of the height.

The rate of erosion is seen by some perched garden plantings! The trail along the edge was missing occasionally, eroded away.
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The trail back was through pleasant woods made unpleasant by heavy rain from a quick summer shower that lasted until the parking lot. At least it diluted some stair-sweat from the shore to ridge hike.