Dans Papers - May 25, 2007

At an East Hampton Trails Preservation Society (EHTPS) meeting last year, I was asked by Angela Ramirez, Chair of the Adopt-a-Trail Committee, to adopt a section of the Paumanok Path. I adopted the segment of the Paumanok Path (PP) that runs between Town Line Road and Route 114. This segment of trail is appealing because it ties the Long Pond Greenbelt to the Northwest Path - Southampton to East Hampton. As stated on "The Certificate of Adoption," my responsibilities are to remove easily movable branches, overgrown vines, debris and litter from the trail at least 6 times a year, and to report major tasks required, upon their discovery, to Bill Nicholas, VP of Trail Maintenance.

Here's what I saw on my latest hike on the trail:

The trail blazing is easy to follow in both directions. I did some clipping, but except for a few places where the brush or tall grass is a bit close, the trail is clear. I also removed a "trip root" that ran across the trail. I didn't pick up any ticks and there are no large obstructions across the path. There are a number of erosion issues. However, except for these places, the trail tread offers a comfortable walk. I was impressed by how little garbage I encountered.

It was a pleasure to be able to park on the road shoulder by the new kiosk to access the trail. The crushed rock there works well. The parking area sits in the middle of an extensive network of trails and therefore is a very popular place to park. This ample parking area is a major enhancement from the previous arrangement, but I do hope it's a work in progress. When I was there on May 15, there was no sign on the road to let you know that you are approaching the parking area, and no entrance/exit signs. As I exited the parking area, I had to swerve to miss a truck coming in the way I was going out. The truck then had to stop short so as not to hit the bus coming in from the other direction.

One issue when following the Paumanok Path west across CR 114 is that the entrances to the trails no longer face each other. I had to search for the opening to the trail after crossing the road west of Wainscott (N.W. Rd.) there is a cement monument and surveyor's ribbon on the trail, but perhaps further investigation is needed?

Continuing west, the Paumanok Path begins to traverse a rolling knob and kettle topography with some steep slopes. On these slopes, the trail tread is beginning to erode, creating narrow grooves in the center. These grooves trap rain water, creating little rivers that carry the soil that's been loosened by illegal dirt bikes, mountain bikes, horses' hooves and feet down slope, creating ravines. In these areas, we need to look at ways to "drop" the water off the trails to prevent this damage from accelerating. Along much of the trail, soil is pushed outward forming a lip, or berm. This traps rainwater, which runs parallel to a trail on the down slope side and forms a barrier that prevents water from sheeting quickly across the trail, furthering the process of deepening the groove. Pulling the berm back into the groove in the trail with a pulaski or mattock in some places will allow the water to flow across, instead of down, the trail.

In one place where a tree has fallen across the trail, hikers and bikers have created an arc around the obstruction - a "grade dip" has formed that drops the water off the trail by taking advantage of a natural dip in the topography. This is a good thing and noteworthy because, in most cases, working around an obstruction will have a negative impact on a trail.

While on the trail I saw, ahead of me, a small flock of fast-running turkeys veer off of the PP and bear east down a fork onto the Switchback Trail.

ATV damage is extensive where the LIPA ROW crosses Town Line Road continuing west to Merchants Path in Southampton.

At the very end of my adopted segment of trail on the East Hampton side of Town Line Road, there is a pile of construction debris. I carried some of it back two miles to my car, wishing I knew the address of the person who had dumped it so I could return the favor.

Directions to Route 114 trailhead:

From Montauk Highway, take Stephen Hands Path north. After 1.4 miles turn left onto Route 114. Stay on Rte. 114 for 2 miles. Be alert for the turn, there is a steep narrow turn into a newly rock surfaced parking area.

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