Dear members, On popular demand, we are thrilled to offer you a group hike in Westchester! Let's all take a well-deserved city break and explore the natural landscapes of the Blue Mountain Reservation. Brynja, our experienced and passionate hiker, will guide us though the deciduous forests and cricket-filled meadows along the Blue Mountain Twin Summits Trail. About the trail Length: 3.3 miles (5.3km) Altitude: 600ft (180m) The Blue Mountain Twin Summits Trail is accessible trail for everyone with moderate fitness. We will walk at a steady pace, taking a few breaks for rest and a snack. You can find the map trail here and here. We will also provide physical copies of the trail map for each participant. Where we meet (ATTENTION - Time sensitive!) We gather next to the Information Center in the main hall of Grand Central at 09:30am. We will board the Hudson line train to Poughkeepsie (train no. 8815, scheduled at 09:50am) and disembark at Peekskill (10:56am). Everyone is responsible to buy their own train ticket (Grand Central - Peekskill) before we meet. There are two fare types for the Hudson line: peak and off peak. You should buy the one-way off-peak ticket. It is of uttermost importance to arrive on time (i.e. @ 09:30am). Missing the train to Westchester would lead to a one-hour delay to our trip. When in Peekskill... The Peekskill train station is about 2 miles away from the start of the trail. Brynja offered to shuttle us there in a couple of rounds. After we regroup, we can begin the hike! Return Once we finish the trail, we regroup and Brynja will shuttle all of us back to the Peekskill train station. We estimate that we will take the train back to Grand Central at 02:38pm (+/- 1 hour). Participation Due to the limited number of people we can shuttle to the trail, we need to limit the number of participants. We choose to prioritize volunteers and members of the NYC Women in STEM group who have actively joined our past events. You may join the waiting list and we will approve your request if there are free spots. For your own benefit - Please arrive on time at the Grand Central and make sure you have a train ticket. It is possible to purchase it on the train, but the fair will be bit more expensive. - Some parts of the trail are over meadows, where there is no shade. We highly recommend you to wear protective clothing against the sun, even if cloudy weather is forecast that day. - Wear shoes appropriate for hiking. - Add an insect spray to you kit, if you have it. - We are not aware of any fresh water sources along the way. Therefore bring plenty of water to stay hydrated! - We may take a longer break for having a snack and admiring the surroundings. If you wish, bring a snack, or even a small meal for yourself to replenish your energy.