Adventures in the Gunks

I am sunburned and muscle-weary after spending the weekend up in the Shawangunk mountains. After a long, dreary winter it felt great to be out hiking in a tank top and shorts in 75 degree weather. I found a 7.5 mile hike that looped around the edge of the Gunks, delivering views of the Catskills, the Hudson Valley, and a pristine mile-long lake. It was truly one of the most spectacular hikes I've done in the northeast. But, two days later my legs are still aching and my arms are slowly turning from lobster red to tanbark.

The gunks are one of my favorite areas. Their craggy cliffs can be seen when your driving along route 87 North from the City. But to really get a feel for them, you have to lace up your hiking boots or hop on a mountain bike and explore.
If you want to find out more about where to go and what to do in the Gunks, check out my New York Magazine story at www.nymag.com/travel