Hiking Ideas for Beginners
It has been roughly half a year since COVID-19 insidiously took hold of the Empire State and quickly devolved into among the most frightening microcosms of the virus’ spread on the planet. Such trying circumstances naturally were met with stringent restrictions, many of which are still active in apprehension of an expected second wave. For those on campus who wish to avoid a listless rut while respecting the regulations in place, I strongly recommend exploring the nearby Adirondacks. Their expansive peaks begin a mere forty minutes north of Utica, with many climbs accessible for beginners: I speak as someone who grew up in New York City and had never ascended a mountain until recently.
If you would like a quiet spot to explore alone or with a small group, I would advise traveling to Echo Cliff via the Panther Mountain Trail by Lake Piseco. I make note of group size because although this peak is not as heavily trafficked as the others I will discuss, there is also not as much room on top to socially distance. This half hour walk is relatively short in distance, although the steepness of the trail is what makes it longer. There is one moderately sized rock near the top to clamber over, but once this is accomplished, one is suddenly confronted with the unobstructed views the cliff has to offer. I personally just made this climb a week before writing this, and the privilege to gaze at endless miles of autumn foliage just beginning to change was marvelous.
If you would prefer a slightly shorter walk, it would be worthwhile to instead visit the Bald Mountain trail close to Old Forge. Not only is the trip to the top slightly quicker, but there are a few lower tiers of clearings to stop at for a break while enjoying a view of the world below. If you decide to proceed to the uppermost peak, you will find a metallic structure looming curiously over the precipice; this is the Rondaxe Fire Tower, and it is sometimes open for the public to climb. However, this additional ascent is not requisite to fully appreciate Bald Mountain’s stunning panoramic views. Although there is sufficient room on top, this is also an extremely popular trail, so I would recommend going early in the morning to avoid crowds.
Finally, there is the Kane Mountain trail, which is the best option for a socially distanced climb. There are a multitude of trails to arrive at its peak, which means fewer precarious encounters with maskless mountaineers. Additionally, there is plenty of room on top, which makes it the ideal hike for larger groups. To put the space afforded into perspective, I was able to play an impromptu touch football game with my friends there last spring while easily avoiding steep areas. The one drawback of this vast expanse is that it does not quite offer the same views as the two aforementioned peaks. However, this inconvenience can be circumvented, as there is a fire tower atop Kane similar to that of Bald Mountain. Once one climbs this, they can enjoy just as mesmerizing of a view as they could nearly anywhere else in the Adirondacks.
The majesty of the great outdoors is a luxury that many Poly students fail to take advantage of. Utica has its nice areas, but I never truly appreciated Upstate New York until I first set foot in its mountains over a year after starting college. If you do not have a car, I would encourage finding a friend who does to take you (if they feel comfortable with being outside amid the pandemic). We will swiftly enter another of our region’s notoriously frigid and drawn-out winters soon, so assuming you are interested, I recommend making one of these magical treks posthaste!
