Into the woods

PEAK PERFORMANCE

Hiking beyond the boroughs: Lace up those hiking boots, because every New York Ramblers outing is more than just a nature walk — it’s a 12- to 16-mile adventure.

With more variety than a bag of trail mix, a typical Ramblers hike covers a wide array of terrain both far from and near the sight of pavement. One recent Sunday, on a hike that started in Ossining, in Westchester County, a group of 11 walked through a forest used in “Tarzan of the Apes,” the 1918 silent film.

“A lot of creativity goes into the planning,” says Ramblers leader Michael Chenkin, a 55-year-old Manhattanite.

The hiking club, founded in 1923, has a rich history. Science fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft even joined an outing in the mid-1920s. Today, the Ramblers boast a diverse membership, with hikers in their 20s and beyond from all over the world. “It’s really the social aspect that I enjoy,” says Sheila Briggs, 61, of the UK.

Most challenging moment: A typical Ramblers hike is more than 12 miles (about 10 hours at a decent clip), making the tail-end of most outings an Olympian-like task. “It can be tough,” says Rose Boeve, 32, from Greenwich Village. “It is a good workout. I’d tell my friends to get a little bit more in shape before going.”

If you go: You’ll need hiking boots, bug repellent, sunscreen and at least 3 liters of water. Bring a full lunch — the group stops for a meal break, and snack stops as necessary.

Info: The group takes trips, with the starting points accessible via public transportation, every Sunday, and frequently on Saturdays. You must complete two hikes with the Ramblers before acquiring membership. The initiation fee is just $1, while membership fees will set you back $6.

Upcoming hikes are being organized in Orange and Westchester counties (tomorrow and Aug. 12, respectively). For more information, visit nyramblers.org.

— Flash Steinbeiser

EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM

Birdwatching at the beach: Celebrity sighting in the Hamptons tends to catch the beautiful type, always gorgeously attired for a polo match or presidential fund-raiser. But in Hampton Bays, LI, one of the most elusive stars is plain as day: big nose, always clad in nondescript khaki and generally found playing in the mud and reeds alongside a turgid tidal inlet.

The modest clapper rail bird has none of the natural grace of a black crown night heron or the stentorian mystique of an osprey (both frequently seen in the bays of Long Island). Yet the drab shorebird is the main attraction at the monthly walk of the Eastern Long Island Audubon Society, which launched earlier this month from Dune Road near the Ponquogue Bridge and Shinnecock Inlet. That’s because the rail generally isn’t seen this far north, so local birdwatchers consider it a kind of Holy Grail, going so far as to keep recordings of the clapper’s mating call on their iPhones to draw out the birds.