Happy Mt. Beacon Hike!!! No Winter Beginners Please.

This is Plan B from the rescheduled Giant Stairs event. Mt. Beacon is a wonderful STRENUOUS local hike with fabulous views from the top(s). We will ooh and aaah from the first 'top', the Casino. We will continue on to the fire tower for a snack break and photo ops.

The terrain is tough, to get to the Casino it is an unrelenting mile up. The ground (if we can see it) is rocky and loose gravel, very slippery. If there are leaves or ice on that it can be tough. I don't post this event often because of the terrain. It is a relatively short hike, but don't let that lull you falsely. 4.7 miles, 3 hours at least. Winter hiking is longer than usual hiking.

We will dine in Beacon afterwards to celebrate our victory of The Mountain. :-) If I haven't hiked with you please send me a note with your winter hiking experience in the question section. NO WINTER BEGINNERS PLEASE. Winter hiking brings with it skills and gear you understand and have if you have winter hiking experience.

Bring: WATER, hot tea?, snacks, basic first aid supplies, and your camera....... :-) Hiking boots and MICROSPIKES mandatory. No trail running shoes or sneakers. You need support for your foot and loose fitting shoes will not give you the support you need.

You should have appropriate clothing, NO COTTON including socks and undergarments. You will need hiking pants with perhaps long johns. Socks should be hiking socks, wool preferably. Wear layers, again no cotton. Fleece, wool, wicking fabrics for your base layer. Your jacket is a hiking jacket please. Hat, scarf and gloves/mittens should be for winter hiking. Warm hands and head is very important. Hand warmers and hiking poles may help if you need them. If we need spikes they should go on winter hiking boots.

*** If winter weather is present you WILL need spikes, not YakTrax. I will post pix soon of the difference. I recommend Kahtoola Microspikes, not their nano spikes that are great for your driveway. I will need to see your spikes in the parking lot. They should have 1/4 inch teeth.

You will need to answer questions to sign up. I will move appropriately prepared friends to the going list. ***If you bring a guest you are responsible that they are properly prepared too. ***

If you aren't properly prepared I will ask you to find something else to do with your day.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY TO BEING PREPARED. There will likely be important info in comments or as an update to the original listing, posted before the hike. If you check and see comments or updates and you don't receive notification you should check your notifications or look on a desktop site.

$2 Meetup fee. New friends, please send me your cell, I will return with mine. If weather is an issue I will post any changes by 7am.

Please reread the event description the night or morning of the hike for any updates. You will not get comments on certain Meetup apps. I find the desktop experience gives you what you need.

ALL HIKES ARE AT YOUR OWN RISK. By signing up for or attending this event, you certify that you have read, understood and agree to the terms and conditions of the HV Relaxed Paced Hikers & Walkers Liability Waiver which is posted on the Discussion page.
Cheers and Happy Trails to all!!!