Almost every 12 for 12 has been written from the point of view of someone hiking alone or in a small group (meaning no more than three people, total). But that’s not the only way one can enjoy the extensive trails throughout the Pine Barrens. Many groups offer guided hikes, and the size of these groups can quickly blossom into double digits. At the conclusion of our “Middle School Kids Go To College” and “Inspiring Youth to Protect Their Environment” programs, the Society hosted a hike through Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge. Led by Jason Smith (the Central Pine Barrens Commission’s Science and Stewardship Manager), this hike consisted of over a dozen people across a range of ages. What can you do to be a responsible hiker when heading out with a sizable group?
From an infrastructure point of view, Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge is more than capable of hosting a large group of hikers. There are dozens of parking spots, and with carpooling in mind, there should be no trouble hosting larger hiking groups even in the busiest seasons. It’s important to know this sort of thing before your group goes to any given preserve. Some preserves (such as Cranberry Bog County Nature Preserve or the Wading River Marsh Preserve) have minimal space for vehicles, meaning if you want to bring a larger group there, you’ll have to pack as many people into as few cars as possible and, most importantly, understand that some places have very hard limits on how many people they can support.
As previously noted, though, Wertheim faces no such capacity issues. Capacity in the parking lot, however, does not mean capacity on the trails. Wertheim has two trails, the Black Tupelo, which runs along the eastern side of the Carmans River, and the White Oak, which crosses over the river and heads south on its western side. On this hike, we traversed the White Oak trail due to its greater suitability for a larger, generally more inexperienced group of hikers. While both trails are decently wide, the White Oak trail features an exceptionally wide portion near the beginning, in an area also called the Connector Trail. The bridge leading across the Carmans is also very wide and, being a bridge, there’s little fear of excess vegetation or ticks. On the bridge and on the Connector Trail, our group was able to spread out around Mr. Smith as he spoke about the Carmans River and its ecology. When the group reached the White Oak trail proper, however, we were forced to switch to walking single- or double-file in order to fit on the trail without getting into the brush. From then on, there were a few spots where the group could come together more readily, but in general Mr. Smith had to position himself carefully and project his voice much more in order to reach the whole group. And, of course, the deeper we went along the trail, the greater the risk of ticks. Since not everyone was adequately prepared for a tick-laden environment, we returned spending a reasonable 45-60 minutes on the trail.
So long as the person leading the hike knows how to project their voice, Wertheim NWR holds up as a preserve suitable for larger groups. However, the risk a larger group runs is the one I just described: not everyone is equally – or even adequately – prepared for a hike. This is where you, dear reader, can step up, since if you’re a devoted 12 for 12 reader then you already know plenty about proper hiking protocols. If you’re going on a hike with a large group of people, consider sending reminders to your fellow hikers to dress accordingly, with socks tucked over the legs of your pants. Be sure to bring bug spray, tweezers and, if you have one, a tick removal tool, just in case. If you have extra caps that you don’t mind sharing, bring those, too. Consider that you may be the most experienced hiker in the group, and that other people may just be starting out on their naturalist’s journey. Consider the things you wish you knew when you were starting out and prepare accordingly. Someone may appreciate it, and you may just help someone have a great first experience out in the Pine Barrens.
By Travis Cutter, Long Island Pine Barrens Society
