One of the best things about Middlebury, particularly in the summer, is the plethora of outdoor activities within reasonable distance. The weather here has been beautiful lately, and all of us have been taking every opportunity to check out the surrounding mountains, swimming holes, waterfalls, and hikes.
The first glimpse from the Mt. Marcy summit.
On Saturday, Zak and I, along with some various summer student employees (who are doing awesome research and other on-campus summer activities), made the 2 hour drive to Keene, New York, to climb Mount Marcy. Mount Marcy is actually the highest Adirondack mountain, with an elevation of 5,343 feet. The climb itself was a 15-mile roundtrip hike…not too intense of a climb but definitely grueling for a day-hike. After fueling ourselves with a breakfast of banana-walnut pancakes, the group of us climbed for the morning hours, reaching the summit around 2 pm. The views from the top were breathtaking. I can’t say I’m too good with maps and directions, but the other students pointed out Canada, Lake Placid, and some of the famous “high peak” mountains within the region. The feeling of reaching the top of a mountain is always overwhelmingly incredible, and we all soaked in the scenery for a good hour. The climb down was more brutal – stepping down steep rocks is rough on the knees! However, we finally reached our van at around 7:15 pm, exhausted but elated from our adventure.
Gorgeous, panoramic views!
When I came to Middlebury as an incoming freshman, I wasn’t really the “outdoorsy” type. Yet after a few years at Midd, I’ve come to love the nature that surrounds our campus. Of course, the summer has provided warm sun and plentiful greenery, but all four seasons offer unique expeditions and adventures. The Middlebury Mountain club, Midd’s largest student organization, is a great way to become involved in outdoor exploration here. They organize group hikes, overnight hikes, and other activities such as canoeing and snowshoeing. Check out their website here. Students are constantly organizing other events on their own, whether that means ice climbing in the winter or finding the best fall foliage in October. I like to tell my tours that “if you aren’t outdoorsy when you get here, prepare to become outdoorsy asap!” It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but ultimately true. How can you not fall in love with the great outdoors when you’re surrounded by the Green Mountains, Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and countless other hidden gems of mother nature?
Zak and I, your adventuresome interns!