Paumanok Path Inventory
Contributors: Kenneth Kindler (owner) and Randy Shannon
Paumanok Path Inventory Hike
Saturday March 28
Started 10:30. Walking with Bob Beattie LIRunning.com
Saturday March 28
Started 10:30. Walking with Bob Beattie LIRunning.com
(1)Paumanok Path Trail Head Kiosk is Empty. Should the kiosk of a 125-mile trail be empty? There is no map, no list of land management agencies, trails groups and vested environmental groups, with contact and emergency information.
The first few turns of the Path are well blazed.
(2)After “Turtle Rock” (1/2 mile in) the blazing needs refreshing. (12 hours, crew of 2) The Paumanok Path marked with white painted rectangles, and the DEC trail marked with blue plastic circles, share the trail corridor. Even so Bob and I missed a turn, and started walking the second equestrian trail for a short distance. That rectangle on the tree behind Bob, is lichens.
(3)Some old damage to trail should be stabilized (two weeks, crew of 3).
(4)Pass by small meadow; picture of Bob with meadow behind him. We then pass a faded no longer correct DEC trail sign, just before Rocky Point Road. What can be done to make crossing Rocky Point Road less dangerous?
(5)Trail now runs through densely growing 20 year old pitch pine. The following two pictures show what the woods looked like 11 years ago, 9 years after the fire. The saplings are now trees large enough to paint blazes on. Since the growth is very dense on either side of the trail, you couldn't easily work around logs or kissing gates, I’d suggest putting a couple here. Here once again, the blazes are faded and need to be restored (12 hours, crew of 2).
(6)Picture of Bob resting on RCA relic.
(7) Bob Beattie looking at DEC signs, showing end of blue trail.
(8)Cross over Whiskey Road, passing Pine Barrens kiosk and parking area. DEC sign is gone. Two pictures of sign taken during the last Inventory. One picture of John Virgilio, under the missing sign, about to cross Whiskey Road. Trail needs mild clipping east of Whiskey. (1 person with mower 4 hours)
(8)Example of trail bifurcated by ATV abuse. Lee McAllister (author Hiking Long Island book) at cement footings of RCA antennas while participating in Inventory Hike 11 years ago.
(9)Over-all trail tread is less badly impacted by off road vehicles than it was last Inventory, a very positive and unexpected discovery. I have many pictures of trail damage from 11 years ago. One example of how area looks better today (Bob Beattie) as opposed to 11 years ago (John Virgilio). Where "paper" part of Wading River Road intersects the PP.
Cross a couple of fire roads, and a blue blazed equestrian trail.
(10)Cross over Woodlots Road perhaps the traffic is slowed down by Horse sign. A single dirt bike track enters trail here, leaves trail at Ridge Road. Cross over Raynor, and Ridge Road, seems road traffic is slowed down for school children.
(11)The trail veers away from the eyesore caused by piles of over the fence dumping. Trail needs to be re-cut, re-blazed, remove arrow signs, garbage clean-up (full work crew; one day). Tree down short distance east of Raynor (one person, one hour, lopper and hand saw)
Investigate making crossing William Floyd less dangerous.
The last section before Middle Country Road is in great condition.
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