Dan's Papers - July 11, 2008 - Take a Hike Ken Kindler

Last week we ended our walk down the Paumanok Path (PP) by Chatfield's Hole Preserve, off of Two Holes of Water Road. From here we will walk about 7 miles to the intersection of Soak Hides and Springy Banks Road.

The mix of pitch and white pine amongst the trees changes to mostly white pine as the trail heads north. After climbing to the top of a small rise, be alert for a huge, old lopped tree on the left side of the trail with the remains of an old well nearby. The air is redolent of pine resins. Pass a large erratic on the left. Before crossing Bull Path, the trail cuts across several driveways. When I came through here, there was a car parked on the PP obscuring the next blaze to the east. When you reach Bull Path, the trail cuts diagonally across to the right. Here, the shade of the large white pines allows only an occasional mountain laurel to thrive in the brush layer. A sign indicates that we are now entering Wilson's Grove.

The trail leads you across the intersection of Northwest Road and Old Northwest Road. Oak trees are predominant in this section, but white pine can be seen growing in the understory. The oak trees have been denuded for several years in succession so there is sunlight for the young white pines that seem to be expanding their territory. Pass Samp Morter Hollow - a deep kettle with a vernal pond down slope to the right of the trail.

We now travel the dirt roads used centuries ago by the then busy seaport community of Northwest Harbor. At five corners, an intersection of woods roads, cross over Whalebone Landing Road. Take the trail that continues north into the Grace Estate Town Park (516 acres). Soon, on the left side of the trail is Standing Rock, you will see a glacial erratic that sits on the ridge of another kettle hole. Continue to Scoy Pond, a woods road, where you turn right. We now leave the Northwest Path, which continues straight northward. Bayberry, cedar, high bush blueberry abound let you know we are near wetlands. A right turn takes us between Scoy and Little Scoy Ponds.

When approaching the paved Northwest Road on Scoy Pond Road, the road is badly rutted by motorized use. After crossing the road, note the Old Northwest School House plaque, to the right of the trail, and soon atop a shallow grade, take a look at the Van Scoy cemetery on the left. After only 200 yards, there is a right turn in the trail, taking you south on Foster's Path. The orange Foster's Path blazes join the white PP markers. We are on the northern terminus of this 5-mile long trail, heading southeast. Continuing southeast, Grassy Hollow Preserve still feels like the deep woods of the Northwest. As the trail continues south, the trail corridor narrows. We are able to walk here because of a well coordinated effort by the East Hampton Planning and Zoning Commission to sub-divide properties allowing for trail corridors. This enables the hiker to travel off-road to larger green spaces. East Hampton Trails Preservation Society periodically mows this trail to lessen the tick presence, but at times there is high grass on these wide dirt roads, and precautions against ticks are warranted. Soon we approach what was once a peach farm, where the local cedar attests to recent disturbance. There is also bayberry, sassafras, laurel and dogwood abound in the area. Once again the trail enters copses of white pine. After cutting across a driveway, note a trail to the right that heads to Northwest Road. Cut across a wide dirt road, and soon you pass Scoys Path to the left. Once again we enter a narrow trail corridor facilitated though an intelligent sub-division process. Someday, perhaps large white pines will block the unfortunate view of pools, tennis courts, and wire fences.

The Foster Trail turns to the right, now you enter the Jump Trail. There are piles of brush placed across the trail, with walk-arounds. Cut across Hands Creek Road and continue along Scoy Path. Here horses churn the trail tread up. Cross over driveways, after a right turn over Van Scoy East, veer to the left into the woods, pass the opening to Montauk Avenue on the right. Turn left onto a woods road, and pass between several dead end streets. Another left turn takes you over River Road and then over it once again. As you enter a wider rolling green space, and walk up a steep slope, be alert for a left turn onto a narrow trail. After traversing several rolling hills the trail comes out on Springy Banks Road, by our car.