4.5 miles | 1,394 ft gain | Difficulty: Moderate | Rating ★★★★ We squeezed in the last of the Hudson Valley's foliage colors last weekend hiking Mount Beacon. The colors were a bit muted due to the grey skies, but still a fantastic day for a hike. Beacon is a mountain I love being on top of but hate to climb. The first mile is grueling - 1000 feet in a mile via stairs and steep, uninteresting switchbacks. The second mile, much less demanding as you wander along the ridge to the fire tower.
historic site
Hike 9: Butter Hill + Storm King Mountain
3.8 miles | 1,014 ft gain | Difficulty: Medium | Rating ★★★★★ "Bring spikes!" they all said. "Lot's of ice!" I trust my hiking community and arrived at the sunny, mostly dry trailhead prepared with our crampons, but couldn't figure out why. We tucked them into our backpack and started up the steep assent to Butter Hill, on our way to the top of Storm King mountain, with stunning view points along the way.
Hike 3: Iron Mines + Hogencamp Mountain
6.1 miles | 751 ft gain | Difficulty: Moderate | Rating ★★★★★ It's been some time since I last hiked in Harriman State Park. I mean, yes, the trails we hike starting from the Tuxedo, NY train station are still part of the park, but when I say IN the park, I mean deep in the park, winding down Seven Lakes Drive.
Hike 1: Princeton Battlefield State Park
3.0 miles | 79 ft gain | Difficulty: Easy | Rating ★★★ Sometimes a new year means easing back into things. To simplify things, and to be flexible to restrictions Covid may place, I'm defining a 2021 hike as a 3+ mile excursion in the woods. Yes, I am for challenge, but sometimes it's just nice to get outside for a bit.
Fifty-Two Hikes 