Nundaweo, The Great Hill

It is not often that one gets to walk into the birthplace of a people.  We explored the Great Hill Nature Reserve and the entrance to Clark's Gully - the site where the Seneca Nation emerged. This week's hike has also been a New York Times feature article.  This is our back yard.

Hiking up to Clark's Gully

We walked up to the new look out - a hard to find chipped pathway that leads to three information signs and bench.  The field has been sown with native plants - birds abound.  Following Sunny Road we hiked up around South Hill to enter the Great Hill Nature Reserve.  This marked trail is a loop that takes you above the south end of Canandaigua lake.  Here we found what looks like an Seneca rock mound.  

View south 

Farther up the hill are the Bare Hill sacred sites.Saint George, Serpent, and the Seneca Indians. We headed down the hill to wander up into Clark's Gully.  Water flowed and we picked our way up the narrow gorge.  Not far in is a waterfall coming down into a pool.  Here we stopped to take the scene in - a natural sitting spot.

The best part of the day may have been the 'found' fishing experience...a bobber in a tree, old line & hook on the ground, and a stick - go get a worm!
                                   

Rock mounds

First waterfall in Clarks Gully

Scrambling down

Communication...

...and trust.