Sunburn Season

Every year around this time, no matter what state I'm living in... I enter into what I refer to as, "Sunburn Season". It's that odd time between Winter and Spring where it's still sort of chilly so you never think to wear sunscreen... and it takes a few burns before you get back into the habit of applying sunscreen. I've acquired some pretty impressive and awkward tan lines this 'season" including a 4 inch chunk of my leg that was exposed by my 3/4 length leggings on a hike. Oh, and better yet, the backs of my hands are a few shades darker than the rest of my arms. SUPER sexy!

This Saturday I headed up to West Point to see some special people (one in particular) and to watch some baseball (GO #13!!). It was nice out... I wore a dress (VERY unlike me). Well long story short, I have very randomly placed patches of sunburn, mostly on the right side of my body. My right shoulder, right side of my face, the inside of my left knee and calf, and the top of my left foot. Now first off, if anyone can pull off ridiculous looking sunburn, it's me (splotchy and fabulous!) That being said the burn on the top of my foot is really holding me back! I tried to slide into some running shoes today but that was a serious FAIL! I may be forced to ride my bike to work in flip flops...

This week will be an odd one at work. I have Wednesday off since I'm working Saturday and was really hoping to get some adventures in. Like finally attending this Wednesday pick-up soccer league I've had my eyes on. Since flip flops are a challenge to put on at this point, I'm assuming soccer cleats will be a no go.

Fingers crossed that the foot burn subsides by Wednesday, and Cheers to a happy and short "Sunburn Season". Maybe one of these years I'll learn my lesson BEFORE the first burn.

Climbing in NYC

My senior year of college I needed additional elective credits so I decided to take an "outdoor learning" class. Basically we sea kayaked, white water rafted, did high ropes courses, and learned how to rock climb.  After that class I really didn't use any of what I had learned until about 3 years ago when I met a certain special guy who was also into climbing. This past year in particular it has become one of my favorite "outdoorsy" activities. Its also probably one of the reasons I've become so obsessed with the Breakneck Ridge trail.. it gives you a bit of grappling without needing an expensive fall pad.

In North Carolina, climbing was no big deal. I could just head to Inner Peaks  or my personal favorite the US National Whitewater Center and for pretty cheap could climb as much as I wanted. Fast forward  to NYC... climbing has become a bit more difficult. Not only am I short on climbing buddies but it's EXPENSIVE! This past week I went to Brooklyn Boulders twice, and even though I had a fantastic time.. I spent a total of $41 dollars (totally worth it though). I've scoured the internet for cheaper alternatives... but unless you have friends with equipment, a fall pad for bouldering, or a decent salary for a climbing gym membership... it can be fairly challenging to keep up.

The good thing about the day passes at BB is that you don't just have access to climbing. They also have Yoga classes (for just a few dollars if you've purchased a day pass), free weights, a slack line, as well as a whole section devoted to strengthening with a whole wall of finger grips! This place is also massive! You definitely get what you pay for.. which is SPACE! A close to extinct commodity here in the city.

Hmmm definitely a challenge, but while I brainstorm alternatives... I'm going to keep climbing!

Bouldering at Brooklyn Boulders this past week

Climbing at the USNWWC in NC 2 years ago

My first outdoor climb at Crowders Mtn in college... yes they made us wear helmets

  

" Order Whatever You Want"

Since we're on the topic of cheap/free activities let's talk about my boss. I work for a small business, a franchise to be specific, and my boss LOVES handing us the credit card to eat and/or drink. Last night we had our bi-annual (although it has been happening much more frequently) "Staff Night Out". We all met at a local Bier Hall and...well... got stupid. It's amazing how much more you drink when you're not paying for it, and also when the beer is served by the liter. *insert a slightly nauseous and dehydrated grin here* To say the VERY LEAST... it was a good time.

Die Koelner Bierhalle  is where we ventured. AWESOME call by Mr. Boss. First off this place is huge by Brooklyn standards. Even later in the night when it was packed we all still had plenty of space to walk around and sit. True to the Bierhalle tradition, they have an incredibly large selection of beers on tap and also bottled but also have a decent liquor selection. They also offered much more food than other beer gardens where I've been. I ordered Tilapia with a salad and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and came with the most delicious dill tartar sauce I've ever had. We also ordered pretty much one of everything on the menu as the night progressed. I give it two thumbs up!!!

I definitely needed this outing. I've been feeling fairly grumbly at work and last night was a great reminder of how awesome my job really is. One of my coworkers even jumped in and ran with me after work! I have a pretty laid back boss who lets me run the show, amazing coworkers, and I'm surrounded by children all day. Could you really ask for anything more (other than a raise)? 

To a week full of adventures. Prost!

The Gang. I bet you can't guess which one is my boss....

My hiking buddy Ms. M !! Enjoying a liter of beer in my super stylish and definitely matching running gear.

Spring/Summer To Do List

To keep myself motivated to get out and explore, I started creating a "to-do" lists of sorts. Some of these friends have told me about, some I've found online, and others are straight out of cheesy tourism books.

This list will be ever growing and changing but so far it looks a bit like this:

• Bike from Westhampton to Montauk and camp for a night
• Visit Washington DC
• Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding
• Explore Governor's Island
• Explore Roosevelt Island
• See Kaaterskill Falls
• Bike from my house to the Far Rockaways
• Visit the NY Botanical Gardens
• Bike the Manhattan Greenway Loop
• Go to two different beaches in 1 weekend on my bike
• Explore St. Patricks Cathedral and the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
• Visit Grant's Tomb
• Run the steps in Morningside Park
• Try the Trapeze
• Explore Greenwood Cemetery

Items that I've completed:

• Summit Mt. Taurus
• Hike Breakneck Ridge and not break my neck
• Explore all the Central Park Sites (post and pictures to come!)

Most of these items are free or at least under $20 with a few obvious exceptions. So here's to a season full of active exploration! This is my pledge to get off the couch (although not right now... right now I'm pretty comfy).

Belvedere Castle in Central Park

Cheers to a week of exploration!

A Little About me and Breakneck Ridge

So I was out in the middle of the Hudson Valley Highlands... 

 this weekend and thought,  "I should write about this..."

First, a little about me, my name is Cat, and I'm a fairly recent (June 2012) transplant to Brooklyn, NY. When I first moved to the city, I was constantly out and about exploring/wandering aimlessly. After a few months at my apparently typical New York job where I work 10 hours a day (and am often on call when I'm not physically there), I began to over appreciate my time on the couch in front of the television. Over the past few months I've slowly been putting my adventure shoes back on.

So these will be my ramblings. IN AN EFFORT TO BE MORE EXCITING I will document my many exciting (and not so exciting) adventures in and around the city. So here we go:

First Up: Breakneck Ridge & Mt Taurus Hike

Cost: $26 round trip Metro North Ticket to Breakneck Ridge

This trail/loop is outstanding for many reasons, the first and most important for city dwellers without vehicles is the convenience to public transportation. A quick 1-hour train ride on the Metro North Hudson line train will literally drop you off at the trail head. From there you have a 1.5-mile "hike" literally straight up the mountain. I use parenthesis around hike for one reason... it's really more of a climb. "Rock scrambling" is how it is described in the hike books but that's an understatement. There were parts where I was wishing I had my climbing harness and a top rope attached. Now if you're someone like me who loves a good challenge, this hike is PERFECT! You get a serious workout, some serious views, and I guarantee you'll be headed to your local climbing gym afterwards.

Another perk about starting off with this climb is that once you summit you'll have tons of additional (and more bearable) trail options. So far I've completed two loops. The first is a 3-miler up Breakneck Ridge and looping North on the Breakneck Bypass and back around to the Breakneck Ridge train station. The second was a 7-miler, looping south onto the Notch trail (through the Cornish estate ruins), then the Washburn trail over the summit of Mt Taurus and back down into Cold Spring.

Overall, an absolutely fantastic day hike and a great way to get out of the city and into some fresh air.

"Scrambling"

The view of West Point from the top of Mt. Taurus