Hiking Long Island - EAST HAMPTON TRAILS PRESERVATION SOCIETY

For general information about hiking in East Hampton, go to www.ehtps.org or write to . The next meeting will be held on Monday, November 3th, at 7:30 PM in Ashawagh Hall.

NOVEMBER 1, Saturday 9 A.M. LONGSHANKS HIKE #10 MASHOMACK (9 miles) Leave the “mainland” for this local island adventure. Walk past tidal creeks, through woodlands, over meadows and along the coastline of this, pristine, 2100 acre, Nature Conservancy preserve. Spectacular views abound. Meet at the northern end of the Long Beach public parking lot and carpool to Shelter Island. Please call well in advance for directions and details. Leader: Richard Poveromo or day of hike emergency .

NOVEMBER 1, Saturday 10 A.M BIG WOODS TO LAUREL VALLEY (10 miles)
This approximately 10-mile section of the Paumanok Path visits some of the most beautiful natural places in eastern Southampton. We will hike from Big Woods in North Sea to Laurel Valley in Noyac. Bring water and food.

Directions to the meeting place: Coming from the east, follow Noyac Road; just after the sign for the Whalebone Landing Community on your left, turn right into Northside Hills onto English Garden Lane. Turn left onto Northside Drive, and then left onto Deerwood Path. Deerwood Path leads you to the Laurel Valley trailhead on Deerfield Road.

Explicit printed directions will be furnished to the people who will be “shuttling” hikers to the starting point of the walk and we will exchange cell phone numbers. This way you will not have to worry about being separated from the caravan. Leader: Ken Kindler

We will stop twice on this shore hike for poetry readings. BYOP (bring your own poem) written by you or someone else. Or just come along to enjoy the scene. Meet at the end of Sammy’s Beach Road (right turn off Old House Landing Road) via Alewive Brook Rd. Leaders: Leeanne Domash and Laurie Adler

NOVEMBER 5, Wednesday 10 A.M EAST HAMPTON VILLAGE (3 miles)
This walk begins at the Nature Preserve on David’s Lane just west of the intersection with Egypt Lane. We will walk past the Maidstone Club and along a stretch of ocean beach and through the Nature Preserve. Leader: Melanie Ross

This basically flat, dual-distance hike at a moderate pace features beautiful woodlands and great water views. Hikers electing the shorter route will visit Waterfence and Fresh Pond, while others will continue on the 7 mile route that will include Goff Point, Walking Dunes and Nominicks. Meet at the Hither Hills Overlook in Montauk on Rt 27, about 1 mile east of the split with Old Montauk Hwy. Leader: Richard Lupoletti

Named after an early EH settler, Chatfield’s Hole is a beautiful glacial kettle hole surrounded by stately pine trees. Purchased in 1976, the area around the hole is one of East Hampton’s first open-space acquisitions. Meet at the kiosk parking area on route 114 near the intersection of Edwards Hole Rd. in East Hampton (2 miles north of Stephens Hands Path). Leader: Gene Makl

A short car-pool will take us to Red Dirt Rd., where we’ll hike to the Paumanok Path, then eastward back to Fresh Pond. Fallen folliage should provide us with good viewing of the Baker Kettlehole. Meet at the Fresh Pond Parking Lot in Amagansett. Leader: Jim Zajac

If the beautiful Walking Dunes are impressive in daylight, can you imagine how spectacular they are when bathed in moon glow? Find out by joining us for a short walk to this unique spot. Meet at the end of Napeague Harbor Rd. about a half mile north of intersection with 27. Bring a flashlight and dress warmly against a possible north wind. Leader: Richard Lupoletti

NOVEMBER 19, Wednesday 10 A.M. GRACE ESTATE/CEDAR POINT PARK (3.5 miles)
This moderately paced walk on flat terrain in Northwest will provide interesting views of a number of interconnected bodies of water. Meet at the school house plaque on Northwest Rd. about 3/10 mile from the intersection with Alewive Brook Rd. Leader: Richard Lupoletti

NOVEMBER 22, Saturday 10 A.M. GREEN COOPERATIVE VOLUNTEER DAY (2.5 miles)
The section of the Paumanok Path that runs through the State D.E.C. David Sarnoff Preserve is in danger of being reclaimed by blueberry and bear oak. A cooperative effort from the entire trails community is necessary if we hope to keep this 2.5 mile section of our magnificent regional initiative open and contiguous. In the prior description of this event, it was mentioned that “the State D.E.C. will only allow volunteers to use hand tools to maintain their trails in the preserve.” This has changed. The fact that all of this region’s trail groups have recently solicited assistance in this trail work event has driven home to the State D.E.C. that there is a wide support for our trails and the land managers (no longer having the resources themselves) wish to encourage this type of partnership in the future. As a result of a recent discussion with State DEC, we were given permission to use power tools on this trail work outing. Individuals and groups have sporadically worked to cut back these trails, but if it were not for the newly painted blazes, we would not be able to follow the path here. The plan is for people with hand tools to move ahead of those using the power tools to reestablish the route, clear the trail tread, and decrease the overgrowth, so the power tools are not overwhelmed. If you have clippers and hedge trimmers, please bring them. Please, bring water and a snack.

There is an ever growing challenge of restoring many miles of trails not only in this preserve, but throughout Long Island. There is no way that we can solve this problem through a single work outing, no matter how successful we are in bringing about a large coalition effort, but we will be able to show the land managers and other public and appointed officials that the trails are important to us, and not only are we committed to caring for them, but we would also like to bring about a more effective plan for making them sustainable.

To get to the David Sarnoff Preserve State Department of Environmental Conservation parking area in Riverhead: The dirt parking area is on the west side of C.R. 104 midway between where the road intersects with C.R. 105 to the north and C.R. 31 to the south. From the Riverhead circle, take C.R. 104 south approximately 2 miles. From Sunrise Highway heading east, take Exit 63 (C.R. 31 North) to C.R. 104 North. Travel a short distance and the parking lot will be on the left side of the road. Leader:

NOVEMBER 22 Saturday 10 A.M. ***CRANBERRIES AND DUNES (3 miles)
Our leader will fill you in on the secrets of the mysterious Walking Dunes and take us to the bog where cranberries abound this time of year. Wear boots and bring a container if you want to harvest some berries for your Thanksgiving table. Meet at the end of Napeague Harbor Road off Route 27 in Napeague. Leader: Lee Dion

NOVEMBER 26, Wednesday 10 A.M. WATERFENCE (5 miles)
A vigorous hike through some beautiful landscape. Come join our leader on a walk in Hither Woods. We will follow the Serpent’s Back Trail to the Waterfence shoreline overlooking Napeague Bay. Meet at the Hither Hills West Overlook off Rt. 27, about 1 mile east of the Montauk Highway/Old Montauk Highway split. Leader: Ed Porco

A jam-packed 3 miles of great (but not difficult) hiking. Woods, fields, and great views along the way to Oyster Pond and back will make you feel refreshed after your holiday feast. Meet at Third House in Theodore Roosevelt County Park east of downtown Montauk. Leader: Ed Porco

On this hike we will traverse some of the most beautiful sections of the Paumanok Path. Our hilly hike will take us through beautiful forests and places to enjoy stunning bay views. Please bring lunch and water. Meet at the Montauk Recycling Center on Route 27, 1 mile east of the Hither Hills West Overlook. Cars will be shuttled back to Napeague Harbor Rd. where the hike will begin. Inclement weather could cancel hike; call if in doubt. Leader: Judy Kossover

NOVEMBER 29, Saturday 10 A.M. NORTHWEST EXPLORATION (4 miles)
Enjoy over 1000 acres of preserved town and county woodland; much of it as it was when the Northwest was a thriving community 300 years ago. Meet at the School House Plaque at the curve on the northern end of Northwest road in East Hampton. Leader: Gene Makl

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