tauk Highway, this 99-acre tract of land has
a half mile of ocean frontage where tall clay
cliffs plunge down to a pebble strewn beach.
If you are coming by car, park in the parking
lot at the entrance to the park. About 30 per-
cent of Shadmoor is freshwater wetlands with
several small ponds hidden in the thickets.
Trails and dirt roads lead to the bluffs from
the entrance on Montauk Highway, offering
an easy, though sometimes muddy, walk. A
passive-use park, Shadmoor was home to two
WWII gun emplacements sites trained on
offshore waters to deter German submarines
off Long Island's east end.
Drive just north of the airport, where the park
offi ce is located, and the other at Third House,
three miles east of the Village on Montauk
Highway. A total of 1,126 acres features three
and a half miles of nature trails suitable for
hiking (a self-guided nature trail brochure
available), fi ve miles of bridle paths, a picnic
area, freshwater fi shing and canoeing at Big
Reed Pond, surfcasting on the outer beach,
and hunting in the winter, in season. Camp-
ing permitted for up to seven days from April
through November on the outer beach for four
wheel drive vehicles with permits that are self-
contained ca
side of Napeague Harbor, the Walking Dunes
can reach a height of 80 feet and are slowly
moving southeast. To get to the dunes, head
Napeague Harbor Road. Continue over the
railroad tracks straight to the end of the paved
road. Park your car here and take off on foot
following the path to your right. Continue on
this path and you will reach the dunes.
Christopher Paparo is a wildlife photographer
with a degree in marine biology from LIU/South-
ampton. His work tends to focus on marine life,
but everything in the natural world is fair game.
Follow his adventures at www.facebook.com/
fi shguyphotos.
ble. My head was spinning and I was still in
shock. Drowning was still a real possibility.
And so the battle of mind and body began.
My mind telling me to give up, then my body
urging me to push with everything I had. My
body burned, my feet kicked, my arms blast-
ed out of the water, as I tried to outrun that
deadly current. Dave swam strongly, and
knowing this struggle was not mine alone
gave me hope. We pushed on, and land be-
came closer. A wave hit Dave and drove him
toward the beach. Suddenly the waves be-
hind me were pushing me to land until I was
on my hands and knees begging and clawing
my way out of the water.
that the ocean had thrown back. I buried my
face in the sand, and silently thanked God,
nature and any other power for my life.
common in heavy surf. To minimize the dan-
ger, swim at a beach with a lifeguard, and if
you get caught in a rip, swim parallel to the
shore as they did, until free from it. The rip
current will not pull you underwater, just
far from shore. A strong swimmer or some-
one with a board, can easily swim out of it. A
weak swimmer without a board should try to
conserve energy and yell and wave for help.
For more tips and advice go to the National
Weather Service or the Weather Channel's
web sites.
freelance writer living in Sag Harbor.