July 11 hike enables visitors to discover evolution of trail project

Aerial photograph of the Bear Mountain trails project, the first participated in by the Jolly Rovers. ( Photo by Eddie Walsh)
Aerial photograph of the Bear Mountain trails project, the first participated in by the Jolly Rovers. (Photo by Eddie Walsh)

On Saturday, July 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Jolly Rovers, in association with the Hudson Highlands Land Trust, will take visitors “Behind the Steps at Bear Mountain.”

Hike the Appalachian Trail with some of the professional trail builders and volunteers who crafted the stone stairways and retaining walls along its scenic ascent to the summit. Discover what went into the, construction and volunteer cultural evolution of this project. You’ll hear what goes into shaping a stone from a boulder to how it travels hundreds of feet to its final, precise destination. You’ll learn about the psychology of trail design and how individual volunteers formed into a community. This 2-mile hike aims to inspire all who attend that people can still build great things, both structural and social.”

In the words of Jolly Rovers’ Chris Ingui: “The hike is the story of what it was like coming to Bear Mountain and how Jolly Rovers and the volunteer community developed. How the inspiration for that project turned into the Jolly Rovers: something that can be replicated. We hope that people get inspiration from the hike, not just about what people can build in stone, but build with each other in community and volunteerism.”

The hike is rated moderate, with all ages welcome and breaks planned throughout. To reserve a spot, email [email protected] or call 845-424-3358, ext. 6.

Behind The Story

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One reply on “Behind the Steps at Bear Mountain”

  1. Thank you for this wonderful description of HHLT’s upcoming Take-A-Hike! event. I do want your readers to know that we have rated the hike as challenging. Hikers will be doing a lot of stairs uphill and then down, but there will be planned breaks throughout the hike. Thanks again!

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