We’re still looking for salamanders. Over a year ago I promised M-ito we’d find some. The last time I remembered seeing them in the wild I was on my 6th grade school trip. Yeah, that was a long, long time ago. I remember finding them along a creek but iI’m afraid I’ve forgotten how to find them and where they live. I need to watch more Zaboomafoo to see where the Kratt brothers say to look for them.
I thought at Arshamomaque we’d find at least one.
Keeping young children engaged on a hike is no easy task. I wish I knew more about the creatures and fauna of the world around us. Then I could point out all these cool things that would keep M-ito and his friends searching for the next wonder. Instead I point out spider webs with rain on them, dear droppings, algae on the surface of water. It doesn’t seem like much but my son is pretty forgiving and he seems to find magic in these small things – something I’m grateful for.
So how far and how long can a 6, 7, and 8 year old hike? It’s a big consideration before planning one of this kinds of things. I thought 1.3 miles would be too short – but 3 miles too long. I was just guessing. I’ve always had this stat in my head – a man could walk 3 miles per hour. So would 1.3 miles be only half an hour? That’s a man walking and not looking. What about a child walking and looking? I guess a lot depends on the elevation covered and how many interesting things you find along the way.
This weekend we were with friends staying on the North Fork in Greenport and hiked Arshamomaque Preserve where vernal ponds cover the grounds. It has trails that are reported as 1.3 miles in length with some loops and single paths off this which add another .2 or .3 miles to the overall length. I hoped this would be good enough.
We were supposed to kayak day one and hike on day two. Kayaking went the way of the wind as thunderstorms and rain kept us off the water. M-ito played with his friends and we stayed inside half of one day – visited the Riverhead Aquarium (though the explorer boat trip was also unavailable because of the weather – we were batting a thousand with boat trips) the second half of the day. M-ito said he had a “Great” with a capital “G” time showing his friends the Aquarium – one of his favorite places. He got his pants soaked walking in the water touching the spider crabs.
The next day We walked Arshamomaque Preserve slowly and it took an hour and a half. The highlight was the bind at the end of a trail that leads into the center of two hugh ponds with fall foliage already burning bright red in places. The water was covered in green algae and it was quiet except for the sound of birds, the water still except for the occasional motion of a water bug. At the end of the green trail is an observation platform that rises up above the foliage about twenty feet, like a fort of sorts, with spectacular views of the preserve. The kids loved it. It was M-ito’s favorite part.
They were all tired when we finished the trail and even if one child didn’t say he was tired all three were hungry – a sign of energy being burned if there ever was one. I love to see my son’s face light up when we are outside and conscious of the earth around us. It reminds me how beautiful this world is and how much I need to be reminded of it. An hour and a half – 1.3 miles seems about right. I’ll have to remember that for the next trip.
We didn’t find a salamander at the preserve, though I looked for them under fallen branches and at the edge of the ponds. I’m not worried, though. We will, one of these days.
