On Top of Mount Beacon

For those who might not know what the Beacon Mountain is- it is a mountain located up North of New York, in the city of Beacon and is the highest peak of the Hudson. The Northern peak of the mountain is estimated 1, 600 feet. The Beacon Mountain was once used as a railway, up until 1978 when it shut down, but since has turned into a historical landmark. Some say the railroad tracks are still visible when climbing up the mountain and can sometimes be used as an aid to help you climb.

It took me roughly twenty five minutes to get to the Beacon Mountain and I was prepared with all the things a true traveler might need. I had my two bottles of water, phone, my journal, bandaids, of course and delicious sandwich I picked up at a nearby deli.

When I first arrived at the scene I noticed a large quantity of vehicles, all in which were parked in different locations. Most of the cars were parked right at the starting point of the hike. Many people looked to be fighting for a parking space, which I find funny because they're going for a two mile hike anyway. I didn't know which entrance to start at first, as there were many starting points as well. So I began at the one with the most amount of people by it, just in case I get lost and have no idea what to do, of course. I also became aware that many of the vehicles were from out of state. Some license plates read New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and even Massachusetts. I was a bit surprised to see that people would come this far just to climb the Beacon Mountain.

I started at the Breakneck Ridge, and yes, I was a bit intimidated by the name. I quickly grabbed a map and was on my way. The map gave me a brief introduction of the Beacon Mountain and its background as well as a map to inform me of where I was going. Each path had a different color, so each hiker knows where they are and can guide them better throughout trail if happen to get lost. The color was smeared on rocks and trees throughout the trails. I was on white.

Once I began getting deeper into the hike, the trails quickly went from a flat surface to climbing up rocks. The group ahead of me looked to be struggling and stopped for a sip of water. Another group found a flat rock and began to eat and talk about work. I, however, kept on pushing until I got to the top. I suddenly came upon a rock another man seemed to be coming down, so I quickly made room for him. An older man, maybe around his 60's, jumped down the rock and landed no more than two feet away from my face. He looked like he has done this many times before, climbing up and down ridiculously crazy mountains. He had a sun hat on, with old raggedy boots and a pair of high black socks that looked to be white at some point. Fearing he might of scared or harmed me on the way down, asked me if I was okay. He was bleeding from his knee and ankle, which you can just about see the blood coming right through his socks. I told him I was fine and replied "I can ask you the same thing". He looked at me, smiled, and said, "f****** rocks, man, they're everywhere." After I tried not to laugh, I opened my bag and gave him a band aid. He appreciated the donation and was on his way back down. I took a break to get some water and to take a few pictures, but had to put it away as I needed my hands free at all times. There was some graffiti on the rocks, which in my opinion, ruined some of its beauty.

I came to a flat surface, which was one of few that was on this trail. I stopped for a few to grab a bite (remarkably, my sandwich wasn't mushed) and took a load off, just to enjoy the view for a moment and to reflect on how amazing it felt and looked. Not to mention I haven't even got to the top yet. The view was clear, with no trees in my way. The clouds were dark, hovering and moving into the mountain. The river was waving, and the wind started to pick up. A thunderstorm was soon to come but I was relaxed, staring at the other side of the Hudson, where the cars looked like specs driving through the mountains and the boats looked like small fish. Fair to say, I was in a cloud as peaceful as I can be. I whipped out my notebook and began to write for a bit. I also took a good amount of pictures.

After about 20 minutes of relaxing, I wanted begin climbing again, but then the thunder gave me one big roar and the rain came down faster than bullets. Everyone on the top suddenly started bolting back down. Slowly, of course, so they don't trip and fall down and disappear into oblivion. I packed up all the things and rushed down as well. The thunder hit even louder as the trees were moving faster than ever. They swooshed back and forth at such a forcing pace. The wind almost blew my hat and shades off my face. The rain hitting everyone on the way down. People were grabbing each others hands as they all needed help on the way. A woman next to me started finding extreme joy out of this, as it looked like everyone had huge smiles on their faces trying to fight their way down the mountain while battling the thunder. The cracking of the thunder scared everyone, and this once peaceful mountain climbing turned into a fun filled adventure. After about 10 minutes of heading down the Beacon Mountain, everyone was soaked. Luckily, my phone was in my waterproof backpack and was kept out of harms way. All my journals were also kept dry. I can't say the same for everyone else. I guess parking close to the starting point makes a huge difference now. Unfortunately for me, I had to walk about ten minutes back to my car, where I was soaked head to toe.

Once I got home, the sun seemed to find its way back out. The Beacon Mountain is just an amazing place to be. It's not only full of enlightened history, but a peaceful place made for people who enjoy the world's true beauty. If you enjoy beauty, traveling and love staying active, and you just happen to be around these parts, you must stop and visit this place. The two mile hike is thrilling and amazing. The view and relaxation is priceless and there's no better time to visit than in the summer. This really isn't the place for small children or older folks, as there are many times you have to climb high altitudes. None the less, it is a great experience. I, in fact, had an awesome time at the Beacon Mountain.
*If you wish to see photos, visit

*If you wish to see photos, visit https://plus.google.com/u/0/105258247434549517845/posts/TjPdgbhRSAy