Dan's Papers - June 20, 2008 - Take a hike with Ken Kindler

Last week's column began at Laurel Valley and left off at the unpaved portion of Middle Line Highway where the trail runs to the left around a sturdy fence and onto a driveway that opens up to Brick Kiln Road. From here, cross over Brick Kiln Road just south of where it bends and intersects with Stony Hill Road. Look for the opening of the trail continuing east, directly opposite the opening of the driveway marked Middle Line Highway. A short distance after crossing the road, the trail passes a vandalized historical survey marker. Note the yellow owl blazes after the trail cuts across a dirt driveway. If you followed these blazes, they would take you to the beautiful Mulvihill Preserve that can also be accessed further south on Brick Kiln Road. Continuing east, beech and dogwood mix with the oak, and high bush blueberry and red maple indicate the proximity of wetlands. The trail tread here is stable and a comfortable surface on which to walk. The trail comes out onto a driveway that you should follow down and straight across to Bridgehampton Sag Harbor Turnpike. The house address at the end of the driveway says Middle Line Highway. Be careful crossing this road! The trail continues between a residence and along the left side of Sagg Industries. Walk to the left of the parking lot, across a small grassy area. The trail runs along the left side of a chain-link fence. The oak canopy is sparse and the brush layer is a lush green. There are blueberry blossoms aplenty so if all goes well this fall we could see a nice bumper crop. Cut diagonally across the Sag Harbor railroad spur, onto the Sprig Tree Trail. This trail runs parallel to the old railroad bed between Long Pond and Little Long Pond. At a "Y" intersection bear right and cross over the spur again, then turn left onto the LIPA Right of Way. After a short distance, the trail bears left into the woods, taking the hiker parallel to the ROW, on a boat ramp access road. Where this trusty road opens to Widow Gavitts Road, turn left. At the end of Widow Gavitts Road turn right onto Sagg Road. Careful, this is another fast moving road. On the left side of the road, there is a post with a white blaze marking the opening to the trail.

The PP enters the woods though a narrow corridor. After walking a pleasant section of trail, a left turn takes you onto the LIPA ROW. Be alert for where another trail cuts across the ROW. A not very sturdy turn blaze has miraculously remained standing for the last couple of years, showing where the PP turns left onto the blue-blazed Toyland Loop. We are now headed away from Toyland, a place of wooden ramps that some mountain bikers enjoy using. From here, a small arc of trail takes the hiker from the ROW to cross over Town Line Road. Where the trail splits, bear left. We are in East Hampton now, where the turn blazes are upside down L's, and most of the blazing for the rest of this hike is very easy to follow, thanks to the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society.

Bear right onto the freshly blazed, yellow Miller's Ground Loop. You will now see both yellow and white rectangular blazes marking the trail. East Hampton Trails Preservation Society is installing check dams and waterbars to address all the unfortunate damage to the trail from illegal ATV use. A right turn takes the hiker off of the loop. Now we are following just the white rectangular blazes of the PP. Cross over Wainscott Northwest Road, a lot of pitch pine is mixed with the oak trees here, and the trail passes a large glacial erratic. Brush and grass need to be cut back, but the tread condition is improved since last year. After a while, the lovely quiet is intruded upon by road noise.

As I approach Route 114, I can see my car waiting for us in the parking area on the other side of the road. We have arrived at the southern terminus of the 6.5-mile long Northwest Path. On our next hike, we'll walk a section of the path where we'll see the freshly re-painted yellow triangular blazes of the Northwest Path below the standard white rectangles of the PP. Stay tuned!