Summer Friday Group Hike to Hook Mountain

How would you rate climbing up Breakneck Ridge or The Palisades?

I don't believe any trail is "too hard" or "too easy". These ratings come from people who are generally fit or in good-enough physical and mental condition to give it the label.

The truth is that pace is the best determinator of difficulty. And your pace is determined by variables like strength, health, balance, footwear, feet, and even the company you go with.

That means that pace isn't fixed. It can be set by anyone. Runners understand this with pace setters. It's the same for hiking.

If you let a person who runs and lifts daily set the pace on a mountain like Hook Mountain, and you don't run or lift daily, you're going to feel like this mountain is hard.

If you let a person who struggles to achieve 10,000 steps a day, works a desk job and all they can do is dream about that bucket of ice cream when they're done, and you can relate, you're going to feel like this mountain was fun.

Same mountain. Different paces.

I hiked up Hook Mountain with a toddler on my back. Despite that, not everyone could keep pace. So, I slowed down until I was the slowest. And suddenly, the pace went from struggle to manageable. 

And because Outerthere fam are supportive and patient, faster hikers who may have found this trail easier did not make me feel like I was slowing them down. This is important because the last person may not set the pace, but they definitely set the mood of the entire group. So, if they see they're being supported, they won't push past their abilities, they'll avoid injuries and their smile at the end will bring the positive vibes.

GALLERY

DID YOU GO?