Dans Papers - May 11, 2007 - Take A Hike with Ken Kindler

Why do the trails groups lead so many free hikes? Why don't the people who love Long Island's trails just build and walk the trails in blissful solitude, instead of working to bring as many people to the Island's "natural" places as possible? The motivation is simple - the more people who experience these beautiful places, the more they will work for their protection. People who depend on trails for recreation and rejuvenation are motivated to take care of them. The trails groups do a tremendous service by making a multitude of exciting hikes accessible to the public.

Land managers, along with environmental scientists and students, need the trails in order to access the ecosystems they protect and study. Hiking a nature trail renews the spirit and provides opportunities for birding, horseback riding, photography, art, mountain biking, hunting, running, and more. As more people use the trails (with gentle respect!), the more secure this resource will become.

When dressing for a hike, wear light colored pants and socks, a hat, sunblock, and running sneakers or hiking boots. Sneakers with a lot of mesh may help your feet breath, but they allow in too much sand. Coarsely woven socks do not provide a barrier against smaller ticks. I wear two pairs of socks - one coarsely woven, one finely woven. As soon as it gets warm, I treat my pants, socks and sneakers with a permethrin-based insect repellent. New hikers should call the hike leader prior to the hike if they are unsure how to prepare. Hike leaders make themselves available for this reason. Please call a few days in advance though - remember, hike leaders have complicated lives too!

On May 5, I was the sweep (last in line) for one of John Virgilio's bi-monthly Sarnoff Preserve hikes. The sweep and leader must both know the hike well in order to be sure that hikers don't get separated from the group. John lives within walking distance of the Preserve, knows it very well and cares deeply about this vast expanse of archetypical Pine Barrens.

Last Saturday, nine people participated in John's energetic seven-mile hike. From the Sarnoff CR 104 parking area, we followed the white rectangular-painted blazes of the Paumanok Path (PP) west. We crossed the DEC yellow trail. If you turn left here, you visit the dwarf pines - a right will take you up to the NYSDEC Red Loop Trail. Our destination was the Red Loop, but first we continued on the PP to Wildwood Lake. After one mile, we turned right (north) onto an unmarked, dirt woods road that, after about 100 yards, led us to Wildwood Lake. After we rested and enjoyed the view, this much-worn illegal ATV trail led us north to the DEC Red Loop.

Some of the hikers were picking up ticks, so instead of turning right and walking through the wetlands surrounding the lake (where the trails are badly overgrown), we continued straight ahead, following the trail as it turned eastward. This trail is very well-blazed now, despite incessant vandalism of the round, plastic DEC blazes. After a while, instead of following the Red Loop, John turned left onto the firebreak/access road. This firebreak is located inside the Red Loop, but touches it at the north end of this segment. John followed the firebreak to where it turns into a paved access road. Where the road crosses the Red Loop, John followed the red blazes right (south) to the DEC yellow trail. The DEC access trails are marked in yellow. We followed this trail back to the parking area.

If you wish to preview this hike with a friend, you should both meet at the Sarnoff parking area, located two miles north of the Riverhead traffic circle. A seasonal access permit is required for activities on NYSDEC-managed lands on Long Island. For a permit, call (631) 444-0273. The permit is free and valid for three years.

Leave one car at the end of the hike (Sarnoff). Turn right (south) onto C.R. 104. At the CR 31 intersection, bear left - remain on CR 104 South for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Pleasure Drive. Be careful, it's easy to miss this turn. Travel the entire 2.3-mile length of Pleasure Drive, from CR 104 to Route 24, then turn right. Travel 1.7 miles to the Spinney Road (large, paved) parking area on the right side of Route 24. Follow the yellow trail from the parking area to the PP and head west to the Sarnoff Preserve. The trail and the roads are approximately the same distance between the two points - slightly less than six miles.

John Virgilio is leading a one-way hike along the PP on May 19. We'll begin at the Spinney Road parking area and head east to the Sarnoff Preserve. Prior to the hike, we'll be doing some maintenance hikes on this section of trail. Volunteers are needed - please contact John at (631) 574-8844 or e-mail him at: virg4@optonline.net.

Ken Kindler is a Trails and Open Space Advocate working to help the trails groups and land managers care for our "Natural Island." If you would like to learn more about our trails or help care for them, visit the Hiking Long Island website. www.hike-li.org