Week 7 - Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cross River

I absolutely made the hands down, best New Year's Resolution!! I love Hiking and I love doing it every week. This past Friday (its a long weekend, so my blog got in before my week'end' deadline thanks to all Presidents), Adam, Cooper, and I learned Ward Pound Ridge Reservation indeed exists.  The name rang a bell when I first read about it, but I had no idea the size or location of the park.  It spreads over 30 miles, and allows CAMPING!!!! There are even shelters to camp in (three sided with fireplaces). We have to go back of course because amenities also include an art gallery, trailside museum, and both marked and unmarked trails.  Historical note..The Park was once the base for a unit of the Civilian Conservation Corps, much evidence of their work remains including the lean-tos that we will camp in.  The office staff were very helpful in determining which trail would best suit our time constraints (we snuck while the kids were in school). Once again the weather was on our side, in the 50s and no prying winds. We did a 2.6 mile trek (yellow trail) located off the first turn off the main, Reservation Road.  The woods are certainly more mature and thick in Cross River.  We saw people in the parking lot, but never encountered anybody actually on the trail, another amazing perk! There are at least 10 different marked trails, and marked well. They range from the short distance we did, up to 6 miles. And they are all loops, intersecting at times to broaden ones choices and expand the fun. I want to hike them all, twice! Next trip we will manage to get out the door much earlier with kids in tow.

Week 5 and Week 6 - Rockefeller Preserve- 13 Bridges Loop

When I said 52 hikes in 52 weeks, did I ever state that I would complete one hike a week? Well I officially blew it if I did. To get back on track though I hiked twice this week, twice in 24 hours as a matter of fact.  And although it was the same hike twice, I trekked it with a different awesome person, and a different awesome dog each time.
I owe
the Park Supervisor at Rockefeller a big thank you. He kept me on the phone with so much great information before I decided to follow his advice. The 13 Bridges Loop is one of many trails at the Preserve that has many different access points (see week 3 of blog). Important I guess since the Rockefeller Preserve covers 50 miles in total!!!! This particular trail is easily reached by parking on Webber Ave. in Sleepy Hollow.
The hike has some graduated hills in it, but no incline greater than a horse and carriage could climb, that's how the park was designed. It also has 13 bridges!  LOVELY, with mature dense forest, and a beautiful Brook. 2 miles plus, that took us one hour and 20 minutes to complete at a nice pace. By we,  Adam and I plus Cooper on day 1 of hike, and me and my sis (Dee!) with Bingo on day 2 of hike. So I hope that hearing about Rockefeller interests you, if not it will by hike 52, I just know it! Oh and this 80 minute brisk walk today followed a 90 minute workout at the Gym with Dee...we rock!!!!!!!