May 31, 2006

Contact: Charles G. Sturcken (718) 595-6600

DEP Offers Its Second Group of Interpretive Hikes of the Season Slated For Saturday, June 3

Free guided nature hikes throughout the spring and summer will feature informative discussions by DEP wildlife and forestry specialists

Commissioner Emily Lloyd of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that the DEP’s second series of spring interpretive nature hikes will take place on Saturday, June 3 in celebration of National Trails Day.  The public is encouraged to come out for the hikes guided  by DEP Land Management specialists featuring hills and meadows, scenic mountain vistas, mixed forest, streams and wetlands. This season DEP will offer more hiking opportunities on water supply lands than ever before led by guest experts and DEP staff.

June 3 – Choose from three hikes in celebration of National Trails Day:

• The Cross-Kent Trek with Land Management Director John Potter.  Meet at 8:00 AM at the Pelton Pond parking area off Route 301 in Fahnestock State Park for an all-day hike across DEP and State lands.  Back from last year by popular demand!  Call John at (845) 340-7541 for more information.

• The Mt. Tobias Traverse.  Go over the Beaverkill and through the woods of Mt. Tobias on DEP and State land with Forester Duncan Schmitt.  This steep and strenuous hike on old wood roads, and sometimes on no roads, departs at 9:00 AM from the Beetree Hill Unit at the end of Baker Road in Woodstock and concludes at the Beaverkill Unit on Route 212.  Call Duncan at (845) 340-7583 for more information.

• To the Balsam Mountain Summit.  Depart at 9:00 AM from the Balsam Mountain Unit on Route 6 in the town of Lexington for a strenuous sally on and off trail from DEP land up (and up!) into the Westkill Mountain Wilderness to the peak of Balsam Mountain.  Recreation Land Manager Jenn Cairo will be your guide.  Call Jenn at (845) 340-7517 for more oinformation.