Scottsville Snowshoeing Sampler
planned for the Genesee Valley Greenway

To highlight how enjoyable the Greenway can be during the winter, the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway (FOGVG) are planning a "Scottsville Snowshoeing Sampler" for Saturday, January 18. The event will begin inside at the Scottsville Village Hall, 22 Main Street, at 1 p.m. with an instructional presentation on snowshoeing and dressing for the cold, given by personnel from Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS). EMS will bring snowshoes, so, after the talk and some refreshments, participants can try them outside, free of charge, on the Genesee Valley Greenway. The Greenway is located directly across from the Village Hall.

According to Friends of the Greenway Executive Director, Fran Gotcsik, "If you want to chase away the winter blahs or work off those holiday treats, visit the Genesee Valley Greenway this winter. After a good snowfall, it's a great place to cross country ski, snowshoe. From Ballantyne Road in Chili south to Portageville, the Greenway is also open for snowmobiling."

For those interested in railroad and canal history, winter is the perfect time to visit the Greenway, according to Gotcsik. "When the leaves are gone, you get a better view of the canal prism, canal culverts and locks, old telegraph poles, and other artifacts remaining from the canal and railroad eras. Snowshoeing at Scottsville should be especially interesting because you can see the stone guard lock, dam, and remains of an aqueduct that were built for the Genesee Valley Canal more than 160 years ago."

The Genesee Valley Greenway is 90-mile multi-use trail and natural and historic resource corridor open to the public year round for hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. It extends from Genesee Valley Park in Rochester to Hinsdale in Cattaraugus County, following the route of the former Genesee Valley Canal and Pennsylvania Railroad, Rochester Branch. Presently, 52 of the 90 miles of trail are now open for use. The Genesee Valley Greenway is being developed by a partnership involving the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway. For more information and maps of the Greenway, contact the Friends of the Greenway at www.fogog.org, 658-2569 or email at fogvg@aol.com.