Pretty Path
An enjoyable time was had by all on Thursday, April 23 on the fifth Paumanok Path Inventory Hike. Jim, Phil, Bob, and I met at Red Creek Park and then drove to the Pleasure Drive parking area.
Through the entire approx.10 mile hike, we never lost the Paumanok Path. Some of the blazing could use refreshing, but all could be easily followed. The trail needs a little pruning, clearing, and cutting. In almost every respect, this 10 mile section of trail is significantly nicer than it was 10 years ago! We observed little ATV caused damage on this section of the Path. There was some minor mountain bike wear between Pleasure Drive and Sears Pond. It wasn’t until we followed the PP along the outer edge of Red Creek Park, that we began seeing some ATV damage again.
If you are a fan of well-built trails, you will enjoy this segment. Several short climbing turns have been abbreviated or totally cut through. Some of the resulting trail segments have slopes between 20 and 35 degrees, but the tread appears to have stabilized, and accumulated a generous accretion of duff. These trails are showing a higher level of resiliency and self repair than I would have thought possible. This trail is beautifully executed - even where it was damaged it is now pleasant to walk. It runs side slope, then up along the crests of the hills, and along the rims of kettleholes. It was wise to design it without too many climbing turns or switchbacks.
Who “flagged” this segment of the Paumanok Path? How was the ATV damage suppressed here? Who is doing such a nice job of maintaining this section of trail? Whatever the magic is, it would be good to know.
Something needs to be done to narrow the opening in the guardrail at Pleasure Drive. Following the ATV tracks here, it is obvious where they are coming from, and where they are going. For the most part they are now staying off of the Paumanok Path. At Pleasure Drive the Paumanok Path is ripped up for the short distance to the LIPA ROW. This is a very good thing. With the vast network of ATV trails, running through both State and County land there is no need for them to ride on our gentle use trails. I call them gentle use trails because the term passive use, a term some land managers use, is an oxymoron.
Phil noted that the water bars just west of Sears Pond are held in place with wooden stakes, and that the steeply graded slope has stabilized. They were built 6 years ago, and still look new.
A crew of five, working three full days is all that is needed to maintain this 9+ mile section of trail. With all the ticks we are going to be seeing this year, it may be advisable to keep pushing a lawnmower through periodically. Wherever a log would be an impediment to a motor vehicle, but easy to step over, leave it across the trail. Where trees have fallen into a dense growth, I strongly advocate for leaving the lowered trunk across the trail, to act as a barrier to motorized traffic. The bridge west of Owl Pond needs a slat replaced. We need to look at where the PP and Black Owl Loop cross Route 24, to determine if there is any way to make it safer. Graffiti on trees in Red Creek Park needs to be removed. Let’s investigate: Is there any way to take less of the trail on Red Creek Road?
For several miles the woods have been characterized by lots of dead oak, young pine interspersed with a few huge old pitch pine trees. Many of the large old pitch pine trees in Red Creek Park look like they have been hit by pine beetles.
We followed the Paumanok Path around the outer edge of Red Creek Park. Where the Path takes a hard left north, we turned right and followed an unmarked trail around a kettlehole pond, out to Old Squires Road, along what was once a yellow trail parallel to the exercise trail, and then out between a baseball diamond and some basketball hoops. Still need a kiosk. We need to better blaze the access route to the PP. Bob votes for a trail that takes you around the kettlehole pond.
This section of trail is a logical place to bring new volunteers. From about one mile east of Wildwood Lake, to just before Red Creek Park, the Paumanok Path is a delight to walk. It would be uplifting to start by making the beautiful more beautiful. A challenge for this section will be to work with DEC to make the Path’s passage through the crotch created by the two legs of C.R. 104 a bit more pleasant. Here is a place where a little work could reap a large return. I see where the hunters notch the live trees along the Path in the Sarnoff Preserve, so I know they use the trail. It’s nice not to have to bushwhack to get deep into the woods. As the two hunters in this group pointed out, the hunters have the trails only one month out of the year. Neither Jim, nor Phil hack at live trees. Capitalizing on the best parts of the Paumanok Path will engage people’s imagination and encourage their participation.
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