When a week starts to pile up on my shoulders and weigh me down, I find it's best to escape into nature and recharge. This weekend I escaped south to Bash Bish Falls and Alander Mountain.

I find that sometimes the best way to recharge and gain control of your life, is let yourself be consumed by what you enjoy. My hobbies include hiking and photography, so that is my escape, that is what I run to.

Alander Mountain

I've hiked Alander before with my friend Joe around this same time last year (February), and the trail was completely covered in ice. Joe and I were not prepared for that, and we had only brought cheap ice studs with us. The way up we thought was going to be the hardest part, but the way back was more difficult. Joe almost fell down a steep hill, only stopped by my arm and a tree.

This time, it wasn't icy at all and I made it up to the summit no problem. When I just need to be in nature and feel the exhilarating pulse of my body pushing hard to overcome an obstacle, I focus on nothing but keeping my legs pushing harder up the mountain.

A good mountain workout can help get me out of almost any bad mood or fix any bad week. I let the forest drift by my eyes, drawing my attention when beautiful light streams through trees, or when the forest opens up on a hazy vista.

At some points you can view the Berkshires and rest of the Taconic Range to the north, and to the west you can see the Catskills. I let my feet guide me along the trail and I just enjoyed the views, breathing in the crisp mountain air.

I hike in from Bash Bish Falls lower parking lot so I can swing by the waterfall after I summit. It's a 6.4 mile there and back trail, but it's well worth it. Most of the trail is steep going up, but the last mile or so is in the trees along the ridgeline so it is easy to traverse.

Breaking the summit, your eyes follow the trail down to the Hudson Valley, staring south at a vast expanse of the farmland below. The trail south feels like a ridgeline in the White Mountains.

Bash Bish Falls

Bash Bish is always a joy to visit. The park can become crowded as the 3/4 mile trail from the lower parking lot is an easy walk up a gravel path If you visit on weekdays or during odd hours, you can have the place to yourself.

The waterfall is beautiful, splitting in half at the top around a nose shaped boulder and plunging into the pool below. The water is a grey-blue that just begs to be swum in, and the canyon above the drop is filled with more waterfalls if you can find a way to access it.

When sunlight streams in from above the falls itself, the place becomes a fairy tale, perfect for snapping photos and just enjoying the sight.

Weekend Escapes

Being able to disappear for a day into the wild is what many of us need after a busy week. Find the time to let your batteries recharge out in nature. We all need to find some way to connect with our passions and our roots, and finding even a few hours in the afternoon is well worth it.

For me, if I do not find time to go for a hike or walk in the woods more than once a week, I start to go stir crazy. Impromptu adventures are what keeps me sane, and help drive me to keep exploring, keep creating.