Why is it called "Breakneck" Ridge anyways?

Breakneck Ridge surpassed my expectations. This hike is incredible and the views from the top are amazing. As a Coloradan, I take my outdoors very serious when I'm not being lazy. Breakneck ridge is just an hour and half north of the city in upstate New York - just north of Cold Spring. Hiking up this little ridge proved to be the perfect length for the one day getaway. Along the route, you will occasionally find that the path will split off into two separate paths - one being the easier route contrasted by the advanced route. It's a perfect trail for the beginner or the seasoned hiker. Here are a few tips to guide you along the expedition to Breakneck Ridge:

1. How to get there: Head to Grand Central station and buy a single, round trip ticket from Grand Central to Cold Spring. If you're feeling ambitious and think you can make the earlier departure time (7:30am) then by all means young buck, buy the ticket directly to Breakneck Ridge and skip out on the wonderfully quaint, little town of Cold Spring. There are more departure times when leaving from Grand Central to Cold Spring than taking the train directly to Breakneck Ridge for those of us that like to sleep in a bit. The ticket will cost you $26.50 round trip on the weekend ("off-peak"). If you go any time during the week it is considered an "on-peak" time and will cost you $35.00. 
2. Once you get off the train: Head North until you hit Main Street and hang a right. Stay on the left side of Main Street and continue on past Fair Street (you will come back to Fair Street in order to get to Breakneck Ridge). For now, go past Fair Street and look for the Silver Spoon Restaurant & Bar on the left. I didn't get the owners name, but my girlfriend and I stopped in for a cup of coffee before the hike and the owner came out to greet us. He sat down and began the story of how he worked as a busboy in the restaurant when he was younger and how just 10 years ago, he bought the restaurant and has been running it ever since. After you enjoy some good conversation and coffee at the bar (or 3 pancakes, 2 over-easy eggs, 4 pieces of bacon and 2 sausages), head back toward Fair Street and hang a right (so you're heading North). Continue along the highway toward Breakneck Ridge. If at any time you feel as if you might get hit by an oncoming vehicle it's probably because it's very possible. Stay on what little shoulder there is and be careful. You're headed in the right direction. After about 20 minutes, you will walk through a short tunnel, the trailhead will be on your left. 
3. What to bring: If you love freezing, cold weather and hiking in soggy, wet shoes, make sure to choose a very rainy day. Check the weather! Here is a checklist of things you may want to bring:

• Beer/Whisky. Alcohol. I realize that alcohol dehydrates you, but I have a tradition of cracking one open and having a "victory drink" once I reach the top of a mountain. It creates a nice incentive to reach the top. Obviously I could drink it without reaching the top but I always feel self-conscious and crappy drinking half way up a mountain.
• Cell phone: Bring this to take plenty of photos with and to make any emergency calls if you happen to fall off a cliff or something. 
• Backpack: Bring a rucksack to put all of your food and a few extra layers of clothing in. Pack light though. Last time I hiked, I forgot to take three jackets out of my backpack. You wouldn't think three jackets would weigh that much but by the 7th step, I was just about beat. 
• Food: Bring a lunch and a few snacks to keep you energized throughout the day. I prefer gold fish or white cheddar popcorn or Doritos or Cheetos or peanuts. I like apples too. 
• Clothing/Shoes Don't forget to get dressed before you leave for the hike. Bring good hiking shoes and wear pants. Bring a light wind breaker in case it's rainy or windy. I also packed a sweatshirt to put on underneath everything. It's always colder the higher you get.

• Hiking buddy: Bring a hiking buddy. While I do encourage the solo camping/hiking expedition every once and a while, my personal preference is to hike with someone. I took my girlfriend, Joy, to Breakneck Ridge for her birthday. She totally killed it. At the end of the hike, I tried to balance on a boulder, not knowing that it was loose, and then fell off. Needless to say, hiking buddies are there to keep you in line/make fun of you when you do something stupid; and in any case where a real emergency occurs, they've got your back. 
• Gadgets: Obviously you can bring cool gadgets if that's your thing. I like different kinds of camping gear just as much as the next guy but I tend to pack as light as I can. I don't like heavy packs. Sometimes I'm successful at packing, I swear. 
• Map: If you're like me (from Colorado and directionally challenged), there are two directs: towards the mountains and away from the mountains. Bring a map. 
• Water: Oh right, water. Don't forget this.
4. After the hike: I recommend walking around the small town of Cold Spring and grabbing some ice cream or a bite to eat with your hiking buddy. Joy and I found our way to an ice cream parlor off of Main Street at the end of Depot Square. They had some darn-good, chocolate ice cream. Cold Spring also has a few boutique shops and restaurants that you can check out as well. After you've had your fill of Cold Spring, head back to the train station for your chosen departure time (the last train back to Grand Central leaves around 7:20pm). 

Also, it's called "Breakneck Ridge" because the ridge straddles the boundary between Dutchess and Putnam counties. How lame is that?

7 Reasons why YOU Should go Camping. Yes, you.

Listen, camping isn't for everyone, I get it (actually I don't, but I understand that some people don't like to camp - actually I don't understand that either... but that's neither here nor there). You may be asking yourself, why go camping? Why take yourself away from every luxury and convenience there is to go tromp around in a forest for extended periods of time? I don't feel the call of the wild, I don't know what to do with myself when I find myself alone with a tree, and I sure as heck don't know how to camp (we'll get to the this in a later post). Here are 7 reasons why you should go camping. 

1) WAIFOASWTM (We are in front of a screen way. too. much.)

Let's be real. We're in the 21st century and it's safe to assume that most people "do the whole internet thing." Whether we're browsing sites like Facebook or finding out which Amy Poehler character we are on BuzzFeed, we are on the internet. Don't even get me started on BuzzFeed. Sometimes I want nothing more in life than to kick back with a Shiner Bock and take BuzzFeed quizzes for 5 hours and 24 minutes with nothing in between except a poop break. In all seriousness though, it can be very liberating to get away from your phone or laptop for extended periods of time and simply enjoy life around you. Last year my phone was stolen. It was one of the best things that happened to me that semester (I don't lead a boring life, I swear). I didn't get another phone until a month down the road. I wasn't "on call" at every moment. On top of this, I wasn't worried that someone didn't text me back or that I was going to miss an opportunity to turn that perfect flower on the ground into a beautiful piece of art on my Instagram account (#nofilter). Don't be afraid to step away from technology for a few days, it can be liberating. 

2) YWATCM (You will appreciate the city more)

Ever heard of city fever? It's kind of like cabin fever except its a city instead of a cabin. No really, it's a thing. Before I came to the big apple (I feel like it should be a kiwi...I like kiwi better) all the way from Denver, one of my dad's friend warned me that I would go crazy if I didn't plan to leave the city every 6 months. He was totally wrong, plan to leave at least every 4 months. Having lived here for a little over 2 years now, I can attest to this. Camping is a great way to escape the looming towers of the city and experience life outside. And when you return, you will be reinvigorated and once again, have a positive outlook on living in the city. 

3) YGTMAGDC (You get to make a dagum campfire)

Campfires are a huge perk of camping. Where else do we get to quench our primordial thirst to stack up a truckload of firewood and light the thing on fire? The smell is great and you get to make some great food and snacks... like s'mores and steak, they go well together...like salmon and popcorn. There really isn't anything in the camping experience quite like staring into the flames and hearing the crackle and snap of the burning sap. 

4) YCPWYDWP (You can pee wherever you darn well please)

Typically it's socially frowned upon in society to take a squeege in any ol' place you feel like. But in nature, you can do whatever you want! It's pretty fantastic, especially if you're drinking beer, which everyone should do when heading out on a camping expedition. By the way, I think there's a Seinfeld episode about unlawful peeing...yeah Jerry gets arrested, it's really funny. 

5) YGTE (You get to explore)
When you're camping, the forest seems endless. When I was a kid my dad took the whole family camping many times. There was one particular time when we headed up to a site about 2 hours out of Boulder, CO and once we arrived, I wanted to explore. About 20 minutes later, after hiking a ways, I came to a river. Right there in front of me I saw a bridge that had been built by a family of beavers. Their dam was a little ways downstream. How cool is that? I ended up crossing the bridge which led to a good starting point to hike up the small mountain that we were camping next to. It's calming to go where there are no man-made things and simply think with nothing there to distract you. 

6) SSAS (Sleep, Sunsets, and Sunrises)

Sunrise in Aspen, Colorado

When you're camping, it's perfectly acceptable to go to bed at 9:00pm. After you have filled your day with hiking, fishing, and exploring, and then filled your evening with campfires, great food, and star gazing, you need a good nights sleep. You don't actually feel the New York City pressure to stay out late with friends in a city that never sleeps...that sounds horribly exhausting anyways. On top of the copious amounts of sleep you can get, you also get to experience beautiful sunsets and sunrises. It's a great feeling to wake up before the sun, unzip your sleeping bag to the morning chill and scramble as fast as you can to get your clothes on before your joints literally freeze. Once you've accomplished dressing yourself in record time, you can make a cup of coffee, hike a bit, and watch the sun rise over the trees. 

7) IACWTLTCB (It's a cheap way to leave the city behind)

One of the greatest things about camping is that it's cheap! You don't have to spend money on a hotel and you make your own meals instead of eating out. A big plus is that the initial cost of camping is a one time fee. When you acquire the basic camping gear, it should last a very long period of time. It's also super fun (and can be a bit dangerous) to go to your outdoor supply store, like REI or Dick's Sporting Goods, and browse the latest and greatest in camping gadgetry.  

BONUS: Hiking destination for the New Yorker

Looking out over the Hudson after the ascent!

Breakneck Ridge is a fantastic place of escape for the one day hike. It's a gorgeous area with a few different hiking routes. It's located about an hour and a half upstate and you don't need much to survive. Here is a checklist of the things you'll need!

• $26.50 for the Metro North ticket that gets you on the train out of Grand Central
• Backpack
• 1 full water bottle
• Lunch and snack (nuts or raisins)
• Hiking Shoes
• Wind breaker jacket
• Hiking buddy

Look for a full review of Breakneck Ridge in my next post!