At 8:15 am on Saturday, October 22, fifteen enthusiastic hikers met at the clock in Grand Central station. Bright and early, some grabbed a coffee, others felt ready for the day solely running on the enthusiasm and excitement of our first hike of 2022.
The group faced its first roadblock when the Northbound Hudson line train after ours got canceled, so our train held two trains worth of passengers. Many couldn’t find seats while others had to persevere through the awkwardness of having conversations next to a stranger for 90 minutes. However, the resilient group of hikers survived and arrived at the trailhead at around 11 am.
We took on South Beacon Mountain via the Casino Trail, known to the group as the red trail. According to the All Trails guide, a very important member of the Hiking Club, the trail is a moderately challenging 3.7 mile out-and-back. The first three-quarters of a mile were quite steep, reaching a 36% incline. We were informed of this in the reviews section of All Trails, however, we chose to step up to the challenge. I am glad we did because we were rewarded with beautiful lookouts, fall foliage and a 360 view from the Beacon Fire Tower at the top. The trail was well maintained, fairly popular and a nice challenge.
When we reached the top, we enjoyed a nice picnic lunch and some sunshine before heading back down. Back at the trailhead, we met up with Clara Tripp (IV), a local in Beacon, NY, who kindly led us to the cute town of Beacon. We enjoyed a nice walk through Beacon on our way back to the train station. Ice cream was purchased, iced coffee was sipped and the town was admired.
I have nothing but great things to say about the day, however, I am naturally a little biased, as I am the writer of this article and a co-leader of the Hiking Club. So I took it upon myself to interview a newcomer to the club this year, Miranda Gluck (IV). When asked to reflect on the day she said, “It was a super fun way to spend time with my friends in a totally different setting than normal. No school, no homework, just a good old walk in the woods that was pretty hard. It was a great distraction and a great workout.”
To see some exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes, be sure to check the Hiking Club’s brand new Instagram, @hikingatfieldston. Also be sure to check out the Hiking Club’s website, courtesy of our beloved club advisor Dr. Chang. We hope to see you on our next hike!
