BREIA/Tug Hill Weekend Trips for January/February 2024
Looking for information on the February weekend? Click Here.
Back by popular demand, CNSC is excited to offer two weekend trips to the Black River Environmental Improvement Association (BREIA) and the Tug Hill region in January and February 2024. Depending on the snow conditions, we will plan a January weekend centered around skiing at BREIA and the February weekend as a back-up for the BREIA skiing and/or the Tug Hill region. There is a good chance that club members can go on both weekends depending on interest and snow conditions.
Since BREIA is just 121 miles from Ithaca (35 miles north of Utica), you can join us for the day or for the weekend. We have scheduled the group ski tours (see tour schedule below) to make it easy to join us for the morning, afternoon or the entire day.
We plan to ski different trail systems on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, depending on trail conditions and interest. On Saturday night of the first weekend, Lois Chaplin, long time club member, has graciously offered to host us again at her camp near Boonville for her world-famous pot luck feast. You do not want to miss this weekend!
As we get closer to the weekend dates, we will closely monitor the trail conditions. The Tug Hill region is famously known for lots of snow so let's hope we can celebrate the return of the CNSC BREIA weekend.
Important: To keep up-to-date on trip planning, including a weekend schedule (see tentative schedule below) of group ski tours, trail conditions and social activities with other participants, we will post updates here and on the Club Google Group Email List. Please make sure you are subscribed to the Google Group to stay up to date.
Transportation to BREIA: You are responsible for arranging your own transportation for the trip. If you would like to ride with someone or share transportation, we suggest posting to the Club Google Group Email List.
Questions? Contact Jen Woltjen at jenrunner@gmail.com or text/cell to (607) 444-1735
Weekend Dates
January 26 - 28, 2024 (Friday - Sunday)
February 9 - 11, 2024 (Friday - Sunday)
Host Hotel - The Lodge at Headwaters, Boonville, New York (see lodging information below). Located at 13524 NY-12, Boonville, NY 13309
Information on the BREIA Trails and Other Nearby Ski Trails
Located near Boonville, New York , the Black River Environmental Improvement Association (BREIA) manages and maintains more than 50 kilometers of trails near Boonville, New York. Access to the trails and facilities is free and the trails remain open throughout the year, offering hiking and biking in the warmer months. Visit the BREIA website for more information about their various trailhead locations (see listing below), trail maps and trail conditions.
We highly suggest downloading/printing the PDF maps before you leave home. Links to all the trail maps provided below on the ski tour schedule.
Boonville is also close to the Tug Hill Region where you can ski on groomed and ungroomed trails at other locations such as Osceola Ski & Sport and Osceola Tug Hill (both about 30 minutes from Boonville). See details below for information on where to ski.
NEW - Looking for details on the February weekend? Click Here.
January 26 - 28 Tentative Weekend Schedule of Group Ski Tours and Social Gatherings
Updated Tuesday, January 23, 2024
All ski tours are subject to trail conditions at the time of the ski tour. We will post all updates here and on the Google Group Email List.
Questions? Contact Jen Woltjen (607) 444-1735 (cell/text) or email jenrunner2@gmail.com
Note: BREIA does not charge trail fees.
Come up for the Day!
Interested in coming up for just the day, a morning or afternoon? We have designed the schedule of group ski tours to accommodate that. You are welcome to join us at any or all of the following group ski tours throughout the weekend. You can also ski on your own if you wish.
Please Note: We will have a policy of "no skier left behind" on our scheduled group ski tours. This means we will ski together as much as we can with a person at the lead and a person or two to "sweep." We will also stop and re-group as necessary.
Friday, January 26
Afternoon Group Ski Tour
Meeting Time 2 PM - 3:30 PM
Where: Potato Hill Farm and Trails (just 5 minutes from downtown Boonville)
Meet - at parking lot
Link to Trail Map (PDF) Showing Trailhead Meeting Location (red arrow on map)
Ski Tour Leaders: Lois Chaplin and Jen Woltjen
Description for Afternoon Ski Tour
We will start our weekend ski trip with a relatively easy group ski tour on the gentle Potato Hills Trails, located located just 5 minutes from downtown Boonville. The Potato Hill trails offer over 6 kilometers of well-maintained and gentle trails offering majestic vies of the Tug Hill Plateau.
Download and/or print the PDF map before you leave.
Friday Night Social/Dinner
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Where: Woodland Farm Brewery (inside the Hulbert House), 106 Main Street, Boonville, NY 13309
Join other club members at the Taproom inside the historic Hulbert House in downtown Boonville for beverages and dinner. We will review the weekend's activities and answer any questions. Feel free to come anytime between 5:30 to 7:30 PM.
Contact: Jen Woltjen, (607) 444-1735 (cell/text) or email jenrunner2@gmail.com
Saturday, January 27
Morning Group Ski Tour
Meeting Time: 10 AM - 10:30 AM
Where: Jackson Hill Sunfield Trails, 8240 Jackson Hill Road, Boonville, NY 13309
Google Map Link to Trailhead (parking lot)
Ski Tour Leader(s): Jen Woltjen and Lois Chaplin
Link to Trail Map (PDF) Showing Trailhead Meeting Location (red arrow on map)
(607) 444-1735 (cell/text) or email jenrunner2@gmail.com
Description for Morning Ski Tour
Plan to park in the parking lot for the Jackson Hill trails and meet us at the Jackson Hill Skyfields Trailhead warming hut (just near the parking lot) on Jackson Hill Road. Together, we will explore the easier trails on both sides of the road before breaking for lunch/snacks back at the warming lodge (warmed with a wood stove) around 12:30 PM. Plan to bring your own snack/lunch, hydration (warm thermos is nice) and extra layers of clothing. You can leave stuff in the warming lodge while you ski.
Option - you may ski on your own if you wish.
Download and/or print the PDF map before you leave. Link here to the Jackson Hill Skyfield Trails (PDF) with trailhead meeting location (red arrow on map).
Please Note: We will have a policy of "no skier left behind" on our scheduled group ski tours. This means we will ski together as much as we can with a person at the lead and a person or two to "sweep." We will also stop and re-group as necessary.
Afternoon Group Ski Tour
Meeting Time: 12:30 PM to 1 PM
Where: Jackson Hill Sunfield Trails, 8240 Jackson Hill Road, Boonville, NY 13309
Google Map Link to Trailhead (parking lot)
Link to Trail Map (PDF) Showing Trailhead Meeting Location (red arrow on map)
Ski Tour Leader(s): Jen Woltjen and Lois Chaplin
(607) 444-1735 (cell/text) or email jenrunner2@gmail.com
Description for Afternoon Ski Tour
Plan to park in the parking lot and meet us at the Jackson Hill Skyfields Trailhead warming hut (just near the parking lot) on Jackson Hill Road. Together, we will continue to explore the easier trails on both sides of the road for about 2 hours depending on group consensus. Plan to bring your own snack/lunch, hydration (warm thermos is nice) and extra layers of clothing. You can leave stuff in the warming hut (wood stove) while you ski.
Option - you may ski on your own if you wish.
Saturday Night Social/Dinner Hosted by Lois Chaplin
Happy Hour: 5 PM (BYOB)
Dinner: 6 PM (Bring a dish to pass and your favorite beverage)
Where: Lois Chaplin’s Winter Camp
Location: Forestport, NY (near Boonville, NY)
Directions: Please email Lois Chaplin at lec4@cornell.edu to let her know to expect you. She will provide directions to those who let her know they will be coming.
Sunday, January 28
Morning Group Ski Tour
Meeting Time: Meet 10 AM to 10:30 AM
Where: Alder Creek Gorge/Egypt Road Trails
Link to Trail Map (PDF) Showing Trailhead Meeting Location (red arrow on map)
Ski Tour Leader(s): Jen Woltjen and others
(607) 444-1735 (cell/text) or email jenrunner2@gmail.com
Description for Morning Ski Tour
We will meet at the Egypt Road Trailhead Parking Lot on Egypt Road. Together, we will explore the Beginner and Intermediate trails on both sides of the road with the option of skiing out on the Great Trail. We will ski for about 2 to 3 hours with the option of skiing longer or going shorter if you wish to get back on the road and head home.
Plan to bring your own snack/lunch, hydration and extra layers of clothing. A warming lodge (wood stove) is available just off the trail southwest of the parking lot. Option - you may ski on your own if you wish.
Download and/or print the PDF map before you leave. Link here to the Egypt Road Trail Map (PDF) with trailhead meeting location (red arrow on map).
Information on Places to Ski Nearby (with distance from the Lodge at Headwaters, Boonville):
Black River Environmental Improvement Association (BREIA) Trails, Boonville - access to these trails are free.
Egypt Road Trail System - 11 minutes/9 miles
The Canal Trails - 1 minute/1 mile
Jackson Hill Trails - 7 minutes/4 miles
Potato Hill Farm & Trails - 6 minutes/4 miles
McCauley Mountain, Old Forge - 40 minutes/29 miles (groomed and ungroomed cross country ski trails)
Lodging Options Near the BREIA Trails (Boonville NY area)
Cayuga Nordic Ski Club has secured a small block of rooms for the club for both weekends. Those interested in staying here need to reserve their room by December 25 for the first weekend and by January 8 for the second weekend. After those dates, the block of rooms are released to the public. We highly recommend reserving a room as soon as possible if you think you may come. The Lodge at Headwaters has a generous cancellation penalty - 48 hours. For example, if you reserve a room for the first weekend, you have up until 48 hours before your arrival date to cancel without penalty.
Room Rate for the Club - $159.00 per night (two queen beds, private bath, full breakfast). This rate is negotiated by the club for our block of rooms.
How to Reserve a Room at the Lodge at Headwaters - Call the Lodge directly at 315-942-2027. Make sure you tell them that you are reserving a room in the Cayuga Nordic Ski Club block for your planned date(s).
Suggestions for Other Nearby Lodging (distance to Boonville)
The Edge Hotel in Lyons Falls, NY - 13 minutes/11 miles
Hampton Inn, Rome, NY - 32 minutes/24 miles
Suggestions for Nearby Eating Places
Awesome Country (Deli and Country Store), 106 Park Avenue, Boonville, NY
Broadway Cafe & Bakery , 143 Main Street, Boonville, NY
Woodland Farm Brewery (located inside the Hulbert House), 106 Main Street, Boonville, NY