Hiking in Mohonk

(Mohonk Preserve, NY: 21 April 2010) It is hard for this Oregon boy to pay to hike, but when we heard about this place from our friends we knew we had to go. This is a private non-profit nature preserve and it is only 5 miles from where we're camping. Like something out of the Bavarian Alps, the Mohonk Mountain house frames one end of a pristine mountain lake with sheer rock walls. Katy-corner to the Mountain House is a stone Tower that rises from the highest elevation on the Preserve, around 1500'. From the top of the tower we were able to see 6 states (or so they say), NJ and PA to the south, MA, VT, CT to the north and northeast and of course NY. Surrounding the house and lake are miles and miles of hiking trails. Along many of the most incredible views they have built small gazebo-like buildings with benches which encourages you to stop and sit and just enjoy the view. Which we did, many times! The Mountain Home was built by two Quaker brothers, Alfred and Albert Smiley between 1879-1910. Many of today's hiking trails were carriage trails of yesteryear. The Mountain house is on the National Register of Historic places.
Similar to our experience of having had too much of Disney and Orlando and getting much needed therapy by drinking in the beauty of Everglades National Park...today's big dose of nature and God's creation was great therapy coming after 3 days and all the noise, hustle and bustle and worldliness of New York City.
We hiked almost 9 miles according to Joy's pedometer...I'm still figuring the "miles per dollar", but whatever it is it was well worth it.