A couple weeks ago, my wife and I agreed to go hiking with another couple who’d wanted to do so for a long time. Once we agreed, I told my friend to pick the place since he’s experienced in such things.
This is where we "hiked"…
It’s actually a rock scramble at a beautiful place called Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York. Our "hike" took us over terrain like this (complete with little rickety ladders here and there) until we reached a fork. Going left would take us up onto a flat trail leading to a scenic overlook. Going right would also take us to the overlook, but we’d have to negotiate "the crevice" first.
We went right…
This is the crevice. That ladder you see going up into it is one of three we had to climb to get to the top. Once there, we had to push ourselves up through the top using nothing but rocks with the crevice growing narrower all the time. The totality of the hike took us about three hours and was the most strenuous physical experience of my life.
At the end, we were rewarded with this view…
…which was great, but the real reward was doing something that, if told beforehand what it’d be, I never would have thought I’d be able to do.
But I did.
-JJJ
Nice! I remember about 15 years ago my wife (then girlfriend) eating lunch at the Mohonk House and then doing that same hike. Very fun. Glad you went up the crevice
Thanks for the pics!
I’ve been up to the mountian house before. Never hiked in the area though.