Mohonk Mountain and West Point Academy

The past couple of days I went to see The United States Military Academy at West Point and hiked up and through Mohonk Mountain. The only thing I knew about West Point before visiting was that it is the home for Army football. I had no idea it was in New York. The idea of the Military Academy was first conceived in the late 18th century and was recognized as an educational institution in 1803. It is situated just along the Hudson river at a point where the river bows westward an extreme amount. It was strategically placed here to maximize its area around the Hudson and give it a superior edge against enemy forces that wanted to pass through the river. Unfortunately since 9/11, visitors who do not come through by bus tour are not permitted on campus. But, the museum was open.




The next day I went with my cousins Alex and Jimmy up Mohonk Mountain. The Mountains in this area are actually small, small enough that the folks around here call them hills. The hike up Mohonk is completely different than that of the other hiking areas around here. There is actually very little hiking to be done. You are basically manuevering up a jungle gym made for adults. There are multiple enclosed rock areas that you have to squeeze into. Some areas are so tight that I was told someone actually gotten stuck. Many other obstacles require ladders and bridges to get across them. At the peak there is a gigantic almost medieval looking tower that overlooks the entire region.



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