Clark's Gully - Naples

Forge · Tue Jun 01, 2010 6:29 pm

the second from the bottom is a picture of me and andy half way up the scree bank on the left of the big falls, its about the only way to get past them

hobkyl · Tue Jun 01, 2010 8:52 pm

Yeah crazy Ben and Andy! Lol. I hate that Ive never been able to get a good pic of that falls! Im working on the video...just so much to do and so little time. I opened a Youtube account and will get them uploaded as soon as I can.

spec · Thu Jun 03, 2010 12:30 pm

I forgot I took this picture. This is the uppermost falls in Clark Gully that Ben and I saw that day, above the unclimbable falls in Kyle's pics (last one). I took this with my point-and-shoot camera after Ben and I climbed up the gully wall to get past the unclimbable falls. Not the greatest pic, but enough to get the idea.

[img2]http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz12 ... 300005.jpg[/img2]

This one is easily climbable on both flanks. Ben went up the left, I went up the right and we continued on above this falls for a bit, but didn't come across anything else major, and the gully was starting to get quite shallow, so we presumed this to be the last large falls (or first, depending on if you're going up or down) on the gully. There were a couple smaller (3-5ft) falls, but that's it.

hobkyl · Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:13 am

spec wrote:[img2]http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz12 ... 300005.jpg[/img2]

For any of others who wish to view these falls and dont want to scamble up scree...there is a trail a VERY STEEP trail that follows the north rim if you stay in the woods instead of entering the creek near the road. It will eventually drop you into the gully right at the top of these falls-if you follow it all the way. (There are numerous other side trails down to the gully).

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/23164

I didnt follow these directions...just viewed it..decided it would be a good hike and went for it...the trail is clearly worn on the north rim. The south rim on the other hand is a different story. It isnt clear once you cross through the gully where it picks up on the other side...had to walk upstream 100 yards or so and head up the bank. I found a vague trail marked sporadically with trail tape that eventually led me to what appeared to be a 4 wheeler trail. I followed that down and it kind of just ends just downstream of the largest falls. According to that site, you can scramble down the scree there...um no thanks. I forged my way through the woods along the rim back to about the first falls. At this point out of nowhere a very well worn trail steeply descended down to the gully. Got down there to realize where I was and I was NOT climbing/falling down any falls! Headed back up the bank of the north side along another used trail and made it back to the rim...followed it back down to my car and out. It was about a 4 hour round trip with plenty of breaks.

spec · Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:17 am

hobkyl wrote:
For any of others who wish to view these falls and dont want to scamble up scree...there is a trail a VERY STEEP trail that follows the north rim if you stay in the woods instead of entering the creek near the road. It will eventually drop you into the gully right at the top of these falls-if you follow it all the way. (There are numerous other side trails down to the gully).

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/23164

I didnt follow these directions...just viewed it..decided it would be a good hike and went for it...the trail is clearly worn on the north rim. The south rim on the other hand is a different story. It isnt clear once you cross through the gully where it picks up on the other side...had to walk upstream 100 yards or so and head up the bank. I found a vague trail marked sporadically with trail tape that eventually led me to what appeared to be a 4 wheeler trail. I followed that down and it kind of just ends just downstream of the largest falls. According to that site, you can scramble down the scree there...um no thanks. I forged my way through the woods along the rim back to about the first falls. At this point out of nowhere a very well worn trail steeply descended down to the gully. Got down there to realize where I was and I was NOT climbing/falling down any falls! Headed back up the bank of the north side along another used trail and made it back to the rim...followed it back down to my car and out. It was about a 4 hour round trip with plenty of breaks.

Very cool! I've been thinking about getting back up to Clark before the weather gets too much colder, but that's one place I will not go alone yet. Not familiar enough with it yet to tackle it alone (the creekwalk/climb, that is -- I may go back alone and hike the trail, but for now I'll leave the climbing for when I've got a safety buddy with me)

hobkyl · Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:33 am

Yeah you know me not my thing anymore lol. In hindsight I probably should have just returned the way I came but am glad I made it, it was quite a workout with 25lbs in my pack.

spec · Mon Sep 13, 2010 11:05 am

hobkyl wrote:Yeah you know me not my thing anymore lol. In hindsight I probably should have just returned the way I came but am glad I made it, it was quite a workout with 25lbs in my pack.

Carrying the pack makes all the difference doesn't it? I personally enjoy carrying the extra weight for the workout aspect of it, but there are times when I've gotten on a ledge and couldn't go further because the weight of the pack was throwing my balance off while trying to reach for a handhold etc. Coming back down with the pack can often be a pain too. Lots of times I've lowered my pack down a rock wall/waterfall on a rope ahead of me, then climbed down unencumbered to retrieve my pack at the bottom. I've also thrown a rope over a tree branch (like a pully) and tossed the end up to the top of a wall/falls with a rock so that I could climb without the pack, then hauled the pack up when I got to the top.

Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:44 pm

Three rescued from ledge in Yates County

Anyone we know?

The Yates County Sheriff's Office says three young men became stranded in Clark's Gully in the town of Italy on Thursday.

Two 19-year-olds, Sean M. Nickerson of Byron and Kyle T. Swovick of Webster, along with 20-year-old David R. Kenward of Byron, were in Clark's Gully, a spot near the southeast end of Canandaigua Lake, when they became stranded on a ledge with no way to descend.

All were assisted to safety. Yates deputies responded to the scene, along with Naples Fire and Rope Rescue, Naples Ambulance, and New York State Forest Rangers.

All three were treated for exposure to the cold elements, and Nickerson, suffered a minor head injury and was treated at Thompson Hospital, according to deputies.

For more Rochester, N.Y., news, visit our website at www.whec.com

Clark's Gully - Naples

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