breakneck ridge, ny

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself in NYC with nothing to do for the upcoming weekend.  Work had been a bit of a beast, as is its wont, and I was itching to get out of town.  Actually, let’s be real - I am always up for stretching my legs in a new-to-me place.  A good friend and I hatched a plan over late Friday afternoon drinks for the following day so bright and early Saturday morning we found ourselves winding up along the Palisades in search of some rock scrambling and fresh air.

I had never heard of Breakneck Ridge before that Friday which surprised me, especially with its unforgettable name. Since I grew up on Long Island, my parents grew up in Putnam County, and I have lived in NYC for about 10 years, I have the tendency to assume that I am at the very least familiar with all things to see and do within 100 miles of my current home.  How ridiculous is that? If that were the case, the New York metropolitan area would only consist of a handful of places and parks.  In other words, it would be terribly boring.

Breakneck Ridge is not a hidden gem by any means.  Don’t get me wrong - it’s a well-worth it and rewarding hike - but everyone and their mother have heard of it which we found out as we started off at the trailhead.  For the initial ascent, we climbed alongside fashionable European tourists who must have had a good chuckle at our ‘mountainous’ hike,  swarms of students with an endless supply of  nature commentary and boob jokes, and a hodgepodge of localish adventure-seekers ably ambling their way to the top with the rest of us.  A few times I became concerned about my well-being as a fellow hiker slid down while trying to climb up and over the boulder-filled paths.  For the most part though, it was prime nature and people watching.

Up and up and up we would climb only to come to a landing and realize there was yet another path leading higher up in the distance.  I appreciated the unveiling of total elevation in this piecemeal fashion.  Instead of getting burned out quickly and feeling like we were not making progress, we had little victories to celebrate before continuing on our way.  It also helped that we didn’t really need to pay attention to trail markings or distances traveled.  For the entire ascent we were in a pack of people and the trail description assured us that we would not be able to miss our turn off.

Lo and behold our trusty guide was right and we made the descent in less than half the time it took us to reach the top of the ridge.  In fact, the way down was so easy we ended up heading over to Bear Mountain to try out the Lemon Squeezer before making our way back to Brooklyn.  The trail was almost the same distance and total elevation as Breakneck but it seemed at times effortless which is funny because the first time I hiked this with Grace back in September, I had to stop multiple times during the ascent to catch my breath.

There is probably a lesson in here about how I should be approaching daily living.  I’ve mentioned before that my life is about to be turned upside down when I start school at the beginning of June.  The monstrosity of managing work, life, and school has begun to weigh me down and the preemptive anxiety is starting to take hold.  Perhaps the smarter plan would be to look at the tasks at hand instead of getting stressed out at the looming and never-ending checklist.  I may need to return a few more times to Breakneck Ridge before that lesson is learned. Just saying.

notes:

- for public transit takers, the trailhead is easily accessible by metro north.  if heading up on the weekend or a holiday, take the metro north hudson line to breakneck ridge station which is just a few hundred feet north of the trailhead.  otherwise take the same line to cold spring and walk about 2.5 miles north along 9D.  the trailhead will be on the west side of the road just after a short tunnel where there’s a small parking area.

- to keep hiking hangry at bay, check out the hop in beacon.  i can personally attest to the deliciousness that is the vegan reuben and elly ate just about every last bit of the hog burger.  also, they get bonus points for ignoring the fact that we had just been hiking for 3 hours. don’t worry we at least attempted to wash ourselves up a bit.

trail running (mostly) in nyc

There's something special about the start of spring.  The whole rebirth/reawakening metaphor is not lost on me and I fully ascribe to it.  While I may not be one for New Year's resolutions, by the time spring rolls around I am all for setting goals and a healthy dose of self-discipline. 

I mentioned last week that I signed up for this doozy and as a result I have been attempting to stick to the running bandwagon.  I have even been (somewhat) following this handy dandy marathon training plan.  The thing is I still have absolutely no desire to run down city streets.  So I have spent the past few weeks scoping out the best places to get one’s feet off of pavement and I am sharing them here just in case someone else is in a similar predicament.  

Dirt Trails In and Around NYC:

Bridle Path in Prospect Park, Brooklyn - Here you can find 3.5 miles of pretty level trail in Brooklyn. It runs mostly parallel to the main loop so just go through any entrance and look for the dirt path.  I prefer to enter at Grand Army Plaza especially when the farmer's market is going so I can grab a snack on my way out.  

Bridle Path in Central Park, Manhattan - If you opt for all of the various loops, you can have a 4 mile trail run right in the heart of Manhattan.  Not too shabby.  Apparently you can also link this with the Ramble for an 8 mile run but I've never tried it.

Greenbelt Trails, Staten Island - These four woodland trails (their moniker not mine) offer a range of terrain from an easy 1 mile nature walk to a pretty hilly 8 mile path, one way mind you.  To access the greenbelt, take the Staten Island Ferry and then the S57 bus to Brielle and Rockland Ave. 

Old Croton Aqueduct, Yonkers to Tarrytown - This 9 mile dirt path is atop the old aqueduct that supplied water to NYC back in the day. I've only been on a small section of this trail but I’m excited to try it out after I work my way up to longer runs.  It's a short ride on Metro North in order to access the trail but the views of the river will make up for the extra schlep.  

Putnam Trail in Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx - While only 1.5 miles long, you could in theory connect to the previous trail on this list, the OCA, in Yonkers.  To access the trail take the 1 train to 242nd St, head south on Broadway, and the entrance will be on your left about a ¼ miles from the subway station

Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Pleasantville - A wide variety of trails and carriage paths add up to over 20 miles of routes and lets you mix it up each time you go which is why this place is one of my favorites.  It also conveniently sites next to Stone Barns so I can hang out with some friendly locals and eat some good grub at the end of my run. To access the trails, hop on the Metro North to Tarrytown and then (unfortunately) take a quick cab ride to the park's visitor center.    

Harriman-Bear Mountain State Parks - Situated up in the Rockland/Orange County area of NY, this trail system is definitely more of a hike (pun is always intended) to get to. If taking public transit, you will need to take a bus out of Port Authority.  I know.  The worst. Do it though - it's only a 45 min ride and  you will not be disappointed.  Pack up your bag with all sorts of goodies and make a day of it.  There are 200+ miles of trails to be explored and I would check out what these guys have to say before deciding on a trail.  The paths are usually well marked with trail blazes but it can get very confusing at times when multiple trails meet up. I would really recommend downloading their map to your phone as it will link up to your GPS should you find yourself all turned around.  

There you have it - all the places I will be scurrying about this spring in an effort to get some miles on my legs without the monotony of macadam.  Happy feet are dirty feet.

notes:

- these pictures are from a trail run i took last week at this park.  while you are allowed to run there, it's really intended for mountain bikers.  once the trail is no longer mostly mud and snow, i’ll be moving my feet elsewhere in order to stay out of the way of the biker folk.

- on the bridle paths and in rockefeller state park, keep an eye out for horses as they still grace these paths from time to time and they have the right of way (no matter where you are, horses will always have the right of way). be kind - slow down and let the rider know you are approaching; this is  especially important if coming from behind.  

- if you are new to trail running and looking for some sturdy kicks, i love my brooks pure grit (i have both the second and third generation of them).  i have also heard good things about these, these, and these.

bear mountain, ny

I had written a post about embracing seasonality – both in nature and in life.  How each season gives me something to look forward to while savoring what the current one has to offer.  Yet as I sit here, attempting to read through it and simultaneously distracting myself with I Dream of Jeanie in the background, it all just feels inauthentic and disingenuous. 

The truth is I am very much over this season of my life.  I am tired of city living.  I am tired of working in a humongous hospital.  I am tired of spending my days in windowless rooms with my constant companion – the computer.  I am tired of being the independent, young woman.  All that I really want to do right now is be some place different, with spaces filled with more trees than concrete, less people but greater human interaction, and where the emphasis is on community rather than personal gain. 

It’s not that NYC doesn't contain the possibility for all of those things.  It does.  It’s just that I am ready to move on and as I stay here with the seemingly same day in and day out I feel stagnate.  A lost love will do that.  Hold you in place.  While life continues to move on, there is an alternate reality that contains all of the what would have beens and in many ways, that paralyzes me.  Because as much as I am ready for the next season, I don’t want to let this one go.  For if I do that means it is another notch of finality, another sign that time is moving on, another set of experiences to repeat alone.

When Grace and I were hiking at Bear Mountain the other weekend, we came upon an elderly gentleman waiting patiently on the side of the trail for us to pass.  I didn't notice him at first as he blended into the surroundings leaning against a sturdy sapling with a found walking stick in hand.  He was probably expecting a few days of mostly solitude in the woods.  He was probably not expecting yours truly to be crooning the woodland creatures with Ice Cube’s It Was a Good Day (it’s ahem explicit).  After exchanging pleasantries, he began to tell a story of backpacking in the Adirondacks.  Earlier this summer, he had hiked to a familiar spot to set up camp and after which he decided to go out and forge a new trail.  So armed only with his wallet, water, and a machete, he went into the forest along his own path.  Once satisfied with his exploring, he began to make his way back to camp only to realize he could no longer find it.  He was not lost.  He just couldn't seem to retrace his steps well enough to get back to where he started.  As evening began to set in, he gave up his search and hiked out of the woods but throughout the summer he returned to those same woods, each time searching for his camp.  Eventually, towards the end of August, he found his things set up just as he had left it minus whatever food he had stored.  With this he gave a chuckle, wished us luck, and continued on his way.

Perhaps all I need is time.  Perhaps all I need is to continue my pursuit for that feeling of contentment, of home.  And when I least expect it, when I have just about given up hope of ever finding it, there it will be.   

notes:

bear mountain and harriman state parks are contiguous.   they are about an hour north of NYC and easy to get to/from using public transportation.

check out these people - NYNJTC – for trail recommendations and maps.  they even have maps that for a small fee you can download on your phone (using this app: http://www.avenza.com/pdf-maps) in order to check your location with gps.  so fancy.

if you enjoy a fun little scramble, hike lemon squeezer.  this is not to be confused with its big sister - lemon squeeze - at mohonk preserve. if you confuse the two, you will be sorely disappointed.  appreciate lemon squeezer for itself.