Feel like hibernating?

It's autumn for sure now! A most notable sign of the season is the changing leaves, the cool breezy days (with bright warm sun) and the evenings are downright cold!
So maybe you're feeling the urge to hibernate! I get hit with various autumnal-desires: snuggling with a book under a big blanket letting my nose get a little chilled, cooking hearty stews and apple pies, and napping. I'd be a great bear I think, I know what to do!

But now is a GREAT time to be active OUTDOORS...or start if you haven't been all summer. During the summer it may be hard to motivate yourself to get outside when the humidity has turned the world into a damp sponge. It feels a little icky when it's like that, I can't lie! Autumn in New England is usually pretty dry, cool and breezy though. You won't get the same overheating feeling from going for a hike as you would during the summer, so you may last a little longer on the trail!

One of my favorite parts of Autumn is the trail running! Just like for hiking, it's cooler and dryer so you can go a little bit further or longer. And getting to a special vista can be so rewarding when the trees are all lit up for the season.

A little safety note though, the top two.
Bring WATER with you please. Just because you're not sweating like you would on a 96 degree day doesn't mean you aren't! Rehydrate while you're out exercising ALWAYS!
Also, if you got it alone tell someone where you're heading off to and how long you expect to be out.

If you have a favorite trail that you already hike in the summer, make sure you visit it during the other seasons and see how it changes during the year. You be disappointed! If you DON'T have a favorite, try going to www.mountaintravelguide.com and type in your area and get a recommended listing. You can also hook up with the Appalachian Mountain Club for your local chapter and their recommended hikes. They're a great group of folks and have a lot of hikes to choose from!

I personally enjoy Mianus River Gorge near the Stamford/Bedford, NY border and Pound Ridge Reservation in New York. If you have a recommended hike nearby Stamford, CT, please let us know!