Trails Society: A Blaze Of Activity In '96
The East Hampton Trails Preservation Society celebrated the end of its 20th anniversary year with dramatically increased membership, a total of 94 guided hikes, new trails, a higher political profile, and plans for the completion of East Hampton's share of the Paumanok Path two years early.
High on the society's list of priorities in 1997 is the accelerated completion of East Hampton's portion of the Paumanok Path, the 100-mile system of connected trails stretching from Rocky Point in Brookhaven to Montauk Point. This year the society took a big step with the creation of the Point Woods Trail, a 1.5-mile section from the Camp Hero housing complex to the bluffs.
Designed by Mike Bottini, a society member, the section is part of a double-loop trail that one day will connect Camp Hero with Montauk Point. Elsewhere in Montauk, short links were added along the Talkhouse, or Coastal, Trail, which winds along the north coast of Hither Hills State Park. The state has asked the society to help name the trails within the park, as part of a $12,000 effort to place trail signs throughout the woods.
New Link
Another link in the Paumanok Path was recently completed in the Devon area just east of the George Sid Miller Jr. Path.
Richard Lupoletti, president of the society, said that next year's goal was to finish designing and preparing trails between Cranberry Hole Road on Napeague and the Point, the last section of the Paumanok Path in East Hampton. This would mean the entire 30-mile trail system within the borders of the town would be created in time for the 350th anniversary of the town in 1998. The entire trail is not expected to be completed until 2000.
"It's no longer just a walk in the woods for ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Lupoletti said of the society. He said the 120 members added this year brought the membership to 200 hikers dedicated to the cause of open space preservation.
Political Role
"We had become a quiet, private walking club, but we broke open this year by nearly tripling our membership. There were 20 guided hikes in 1995, 94 this year. We had approximately 1,000 hikers during the season, and we learned that we could be a political as well as recreational organization," Mr. Lupoletti said.
The society's president said that at the start of each hike, the cause of preserving open space was talked up. And, prior to the November elections, members handed out 1,500 brochures advocating the state's Clean Water, Clean Air Bond Act to pay for land acquisition. It passed, and Mr. Lupoletti said he liked to think the society played a role. Two members of the organization now serve on the town's open space advisory committee.
Also in 1997, the society intends to "adopt" Montauk County Park and organize a "March of Parks" on Earth Day to raise money to be used for maintaining trails within the park. The society has also undertaken the revision of trails maps for East Hampton.
"Movable Feasts"
On Jan. 5, the society will begin the first of its winter hikes with a trek through Hither Hills. There will be some different kinds of hikes offered in the near future. The society is about to kick off its "movable feast" hikes. After each, hikers will repair to a member's house or a nearby bistro for a little socializing. "Guest speaker" hikes are also planned.
Mr. Lupoletti described the society's most dramatic project for the coming year: getting an Army helicopter to lift junked cars out of Hither Hills. A society member, John Benedict, conceived of the idea, which will involve lifting old heaps and carrying them to a junk dealer's truck at the Montauk landfill.