Hudson Highlands State Park Hike

On an odd Sunday in July, I wasn’t working for a change, and the weather was good. After having driven through three monsoons in five days, I was ready for a day in the woods. I kicked around various destinations, including the Schaeffer trail up Gore, and the Taconic Hereford multiple use area.

view of West Point
West Point from the Hudson Highlands

Waking up at 6:30 put the kibosh on Gore. Decades ago, I’d climbed Breakneck Ridge near Cold Spring NY, and as I finished my coffee, I decided I’d check out Hudson Highlands State Park.

I followed my nose to a small trailhead just off Route 301 outside Cold Spring. Unloader brace? Check. Heart rate monitor? Check. Hydration vest? Check. Off we go.

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Saranac Ultra 6: The Longest Day in the ADK

There is a bell that tolls in a small park in downtown Saranac Lake to acknowledge a great effort. It rings six times, once for each of the town’s surrounding peaks after they all have been climbed: Little Haystack, McKenzie, Scarface, Ampersand, St. Regis and Baker. Only the hearty souls who have climbed each peak should ring the bell.

Barkeater Inn
Barkeater Inn

Legend says that anyone who pulls the rope of the bell without first summiting the six mountains will fall prey to the Kiwassa Curse. The 30+ mile challenge is known as the Saranac Lake 6er and it can be done over a lifetime. If completed in 24 hours it’s known as the Saranac Ultra 6.

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Plattekill Mountain Race 2023

Three days afterwards, despite plenty of foam rolling and stretching, my quads were still sore.

With no Whiteface Sky Race this year, my focus turned to the Plattekill Mountain Race. Yes, that Plattekill, beloved mountain for so many readers of this blog. Saturday night after closing the wine store, I hopped into the Fortunate Son, my new used shooting brake, and lit out for Platty.

Plattekill Mountain

I’ve never been to that part of the Catskills. Driving west of Phoenicia on Route 28, I entered terra incognita. In the pitch dark, I began questioning the wisdom of my plan: leave work at 8:45, drive straight to the mountain, and flop in the parking lot. Maybe I should have done dawn patrol.

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