HIKING
Head toward the Carolinas for a more moderate, “class
two,” hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here, you’ll
find obstacles such as mountain bogs, waterfalls, shrub
thickets, and boulders to make your way around. The
parkway stretches from North Carolina up into Virginia, and centers around the Blue Ridge Mountains, a
smaller region within the southern Appalachians. For
these moderate trails, such as Rattlesnake Lodge, you’ll
need a good pair of hiking boots, a walking stick to help
you with balance, and a small backpack for supplies,
like water, snacks, and a first-aid kit just in case. Blue
Ridge is home to more than 50 trails, and North Carolina
alone has more than 20 waterfalls to check out during
your hike. Lined with oak, pine, and spruce trees, Blue
Ridge is home to a variety of birds, Whitetail deer, and
the American Black Bear. For an avid outdoorsman, it is
a mountain range worth getting acquainted with, even if
you get roughed up a bit in the process.
Now that warm-ups are over, dive into the real work-out
and try Breakneck Ridge Trail in the Hudson Highlands
State Park, located in New York. This trail is categorized as “class two,” but is harder to master than the
Blue Ridge trails, with fair warning as to why in its name.
Breakneck ridge consists of extremely steep cliffs and
bluffs galore. You’ll have to scramble your way up to the
top – elevation gain is about 1,500 feet – but when you
reach the summit, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the
view. The top of the ridge offers a panoramic view of
the Hudson Valley, river included. The view comes with
a price, though. There are strong gusts of wind at the
peak and even in the summertime, it is recommended that you bring some sort of windbreaker, and
don’t forget hiking boots with a rubber sole that are
laced high enough to protect your ankles. But don’t
quit just yet, there’s more.
Recover while you travel from East to West, and
head toward the Rocky Mountains. Within the Rocky
Mountain National Park, check out Longs Peak Trail.
It is the highest point in the park and one of the trickiest trails to navigate. With elevation over 13,000
feet, this strenuous hike includes climbing upwards
more than 500 feet at any given time, and fighting
through boulders and loose rocks to do so. You will
have to find your own path, though there are a few
80 Summer 2015 Adventure Outdoors
markers to help. There are no real cliffs to fall off of, but a
slip-of-grip can lead you to a broken leg, for sure. Bring
adequate climbing gear for assistance and make sure to
wear high boots and long pants to avoid knee and leg
scrapes on the jagged rocks throughout the trail. Longs
Peak is a “class three,” but worth every minute once you
get to the Keyhole, which rests at 13,200 feet.
Ready for real danger? Visit Yosemite National Park in
California and hike the Half Dome Trail. Elevation is over
8,000 feet and while it’s not as high as the Keyhole in the
Rockies, it’s ten times more dangerous. Halfway up the
unbelievably steep terrain, you’ll get to a set of installed
cables in the side of the Half Dome Mountain. Here,
you’ll be introduced to about an hour’s worth of rock
climbing, so bring a helmet and safety gear as required.
Despite the dangers, Yosemite receives thousands of
visitors per year that wish to hike the Half Dome, and
many hikers have died trying. If you’re insane enough to
get through the cable-climbing and you reach the top,
you’ve still got to make your way down, which people
have also died doing. Best advice we have: bring rope
and climbing gear. Don’t take this hike lightly, it’s for extremists!
Surely, “mercy” was muttered a mountain or two ago,
but no matter what your hiking skills are, the scenery
is the motivation. There is nothing more satisfying than
trekking through nature’s obstacle courses, reaching a
summit, and taking in views that only an eagle would
see. From the Appalachians to the Coastal Ranges,
there are thousands of trails to choose from, so check
with park websites for updated hiking trail information
and start planning your hiking adventure now!