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Why do the trails groups
lead so many free
hikes? Why don’t the
people who love Long
Island’s trails just
build and walk the
trails in blissful
solitude instead of
working to bring as many
people to the Island’s
“natural” places as
possible? The
motivation is simple;
the more people who
experience these
beautiful places, the
more who will work for
their protection.
People who depend on
trails for recreation
and rejuvenation are
motivated to take care
of them. The trails
groups do a tremendous
service by making a
multitude of exciting
hikes accessible to the
public.
Land managers, along
with environmental
scientists and students,
need the trails in order
to access the ecosystems
they protect and study.
Hiking a nature trail
renews the spirit and
provides opportunities
for birding, horseback
riding, photography,
art, mountain biking,
hunting, running, etc.
As more people use the
trails (with gentle
respect!), the more
secure this resource
will become.
When dressing for a
hike, wear light colored
pants and socks, a hat,
sun block, and running
sneakers or hiking
boots. Sneakers with a
lot of mesh may help
your feet breath, but
they allow in too much
sand. Course woven
socks do not provide a
barrier to smaller
ticks. I wear two pairs
of socks, one course
weave, one fine weave.
As soon as it gets warm,
I treat my pants, socks,
and sneakers with a
permethrin-based insect
repellent. New hikers
should call the hike
leader prior to the hike
if they are unsure about
how to prepare. Hike
leaders make themselves
available for this
reason. Please call a
few days in advance
though; remember hike
leaders have complicated
lives too!
In May 2006, I was the
sweep (last in line) for
one of John Virgilio’s
Sarnoff Preserve hikes.
The sweep and leader
must both know the hike
well in order to be sure
that hikers don’t get
separated from the
group. John lives
within walking distance
of the Preserve, knows
it very well, and cares
deeply about this vast
expanse of archetypical
Pine Barrens.
Last Saturday, nine
people participated in
John’s energetic 7-mile
hike. From the Sarnoff
CR 104 parking area, we
followed the white
rectangular-painted
blazes of the Paumanok
Path (PP) west. We
crossed the DEC yellow
trail. If you turn left
here, you visit the
dwarf pines; a right
will take you up to the
NYSDEC Red Loop Trail.
Our destination was the
Red Loop, but first we
continued on the PP to
Wildwood Lake. After
one mile, we turned
right (north) onto an
unmarked dirt, woods
road that after about
100 yards led us to
Wildwood Lake. After we
rested and enjoyed the
view, this same much
worn illegal ATV trail
led us north to the DEC
Red Loop.
Some of the hikers were
picking up ticks, so
instead of turning right
and walking through the
wetlands surrounding the
lake (where the trails
are badly overgrown), we
continued straight
ahead, following the
trail as it turned
eastward. This trail is
very well-blazed now
despite incessant
vandalism of the
plastic, round, DEC
blazes. After a while,
instead of following the
Red Loop, John turned
left onto the
firebreak/access road.
This firebreak is
located inside the Red
Loop, but touches it at
the north end of this
segment. John followed
the firebreak to where
it turns into a paved
access road. Where the
road crosses the Red
Loop, John followed the
red blazes right (south)
to the DEC yellow
trail. The DEC access
trails are marked in
yellow. We followed
this trail back to the
parking area.
If you wish to preview
this hike with a friend,
you should both meet at
the Sarnoff parking area
located 2 miles north of
the Riverhead traffic
circle. A
seasonal access permit
is required for
activities on NYSDEC
managed lands on Long
Island. The permit is
free and valid for three
years (call
631-444-0273).
Leave one car at the end
of the hike (Sarnoff).
Turn right (south) onto
C.R. 104. At the CR 31
intersection, bear left;
remain on CR 104 South
for 1.5 miles. Turn
left onto Pleasure Dr.
Be careful, it’s easy to
miss this turn. Travel
the entire 2.3 mile
length of Pleasure
Drive, from CR 104 to
Route 24 then turn
right. Travel 1.7 miles
to the Spinney Road
(large, paved) parking
area on the right side
of Route 24. Follow the
yellow trail from the
parking area to the PP
and head west to the
Sarnoff Preserve. The
trail and the roads are
approximately the same
distance between the two
points; slightly less
than 6 miles.
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