Have you ever hiked in the rain? I wouldn’t make a point of finding a rainy day to go hiking – but from now on, if I am planning a hike and it starts to rain, I’m going anyway! I hiked up Sleeping Beauty (between Lake George and South Bay) a few days ago in the rain, and I saw things that I have never seen in the woods before. Even if you only do it once, you should definitely take a hike in the rain and experience the things that you won’t find on a bright sunny day.
First things first, you should have a pair of Gore-tex or waterproof footwear. I would not recommend hiking in the rain with a pair of tennis shoes on, your feet will be wet and cold, which will just make you miserable. I also recommend wool socks, regardless of the time of year. Wool absorbs moisture and is a very good insulator, I wear wool socks when I hike all summer long.
The stop barrier was opened, and allowed us to drive in to Dacy Clearing, the trail head for Sleeping Beauty, Bumps Pond, Fishbrook Pond and other trails via connecting loops. We hiked up the wet trail (more like a low stream bed) for a while, and slowly as wet rocks and leaves can do a number on your ankles if you don’t pay attention.
On the way up I noticed this awesome looking rock on the side of the trail. I’m pretty confident that I would not have noticed it has it not been soaking wet and reflecting so much light, but I am glad I did. I have no idea how this was formed/split/eroded but it was really cool. Check out the pattern of lines on it. Does anybody know what may have caused this?
The trail wasn’t too bad on the way up, and I think it took us a little over an hour to reach the summit. NOTE: If the barrier is closed at the first parking lot, expect to add about 1.5 miles in each direction to get to Dacy Clearing.
The view from the summit of Sleeping Beauty is one of the best in the area. A full panoramic of Lake George from the Village to the Narrows can be seen. This is not the case in the rain. However, I was very impressed with the limited view in the rain. I knew exactly what was out there, yet couldn’t see any of it. It was like standing in the clouds, or at the edge of the world or something. An awesome sensation for me, who enjoys the views at the top of any mountain on a nice, sunny day.
That’s me at the summit on this beautiful day!
The hike back down was a little slower than usual, again being careful of where to step. Hiking in the rain was a good time for me, and if you have a good waterproof pair of hiking boots, and a rain jacket it can be for you too! Bring dry clothes with you so you can change if you get soaked. Remember, the temperature doesn’t have to be freezing to get hypothermia!
I hope you get in the woods some day while its raining, even if you don’t hike a mountain. It really opened my eyes to things that I have never even thought of. If you only hike when it’s 70 and sunny, then you are only getting part of the experience!
I agree, weather should not be a barrier to enjoying the outdoors. I paddled Skaneateles Lake in the Fingerlakes last weekend on a miserable, windy, cold day. I was the only boat on the water and it was awesome.
The patterns you see on the rock are glacial striations. These are created by the glacier as it drags other rocks, pebbles, and debris over larger rocks. The rock you photographed must have been part of a larger rock that broke off.