Dan's Papers - November 3, 2006 -

Blue Nalgene water bottle: $12. New Balance sneakers: $44.99. Canon Rebel SLR: $179.99, after rebate. Acorn hiking socks: $8.99. Trident sugarless gum, spearmint flavored: $1.15. Hiking at the Walking Dunes in Napeague: Priceless.

My day began like any other, except for the fact that I could not stop thinking about what my fellow co-worker, Julia Nasser, had said to me the night before. She continuously raved about how beautiful the Walking Dunes were and how important it is for those who hike there to stay on the trail due to the heightened sensitivity of this geological phenomenon. Apparently, the New York State Parks Department has built a trail so that human movement would only lightly impact the natural movement of the dunes, and the State has threatened that if people venture off the trail, they may deny access altogether. I asked her where I could find these dunes, and she explained that they are located at the end of Napeague Harbor Road.

The sun was high around 1 p.m., and the midday wind seemed to pick up and shake the bay waves. I followed the road about a mile north of the highway and spotted an information kiosk and a sign with an arrow pointing east that read, "Walking Dunes." In my imagination, all I could picture were these dune-like creatures with grassy hair, walking with me at a snail-like pace, smiling. What I soon found was that they were better than anything I could have imagined. I parked my car, stretched, got my camera situated, tightened my hiking sneakers, and started on my journey.

The Walking Dunes are an active parabolic dune field, situated just to the east of Napeague Bay, and concludes less than three kilometers to the east of Hither Hills State Park's hilly terrain. Parabolic dunes are a special dune formation; completely dependent on moisture and vegetation, they grow in response to prevailing north to northwesterly winds. They migrate downwind, and are characterized by partially stabilized limbs that point upwind, with a blowout at the center of the dune that migrates faster than the limbs, hence the "walking" aspect. As the wind blows up their slopes, it accelerates and increases their ability to carry sediment.

On the first part of the trail, there is a large sign that reads: "These dunes are unique for Long Island. They are forever shifting due to the winds, and in some areas, have covered groves of trees 30' tall with the tops of the trees still being alive. Please do not take any vehicles or walk in the face of the dunes so they can be preserved in their natural state." As I walked along, I slowed my pace so as to not damage or disturb the ground below my feet. I watched while little birds swooped in from every direction, hiding in their tiny shelters found in the Russian olive, oak, shad and pine trees.

The land there seemed so sensitive; in fact, I could see animal tracks in the sand and was able to identify the footprints of at least one or two deer. There are many different ecosystems present here in the Walking Dunes-they include salt marsh, beach, dune, pepperidge swamp, cranberry bog, shrub swamp, oak-holly forest, and pitch pine forest. In total, there are five major dunes and Number 5, the youngest of the major dunes, advances at a rate of over six miles per year. As I headed southeast, towards the crest of Number 4, I noticed the stunning view of Napeague Bay. This is the highest point in the hike. I fussed around a bit with my camera, taking a few shots and, luckily, was able to catch my breath. Believe me, walking in the sand uphill is not easy. As I looked downhill, I spotted another sign signaling a new part of the self-guided hike.

At the bottom of the hill, I found myself in the Phantom Forest, and the sign read, "This area once contained a forest of pitch pine and oak, as the walking dune moved through the area, all the trees were completely buried underneath the sand and now all that remains of the forest are the dead trees you see here. As the dune continues moving in a southeasterly direction, more trees will be uncovered." After I read that, I really felt as though I was in some sort of fairytale; this entire area seemed magical, as if there were phantoms in the forest and on the dunes that walk.

As I worked my way through the twists and turns of the forest, I noticed many Monarch butterflies among the beautiful plant life as I got closer to the water. The Walking Dunes are a very special place here on the East End, and it is up to each of us to help preserve this unique area. I suggest you go out and try hiking the Walking Dunes; you can take some beautiful pictures, come in contact with rare and striking vegetation, and experience a priceless hike.