New York played an integral part of my life for 32 years.
Spent my mid- to late-20s receiving an education, in every sense of the word, in NYC. I saw and experienced so much during those years, and I am grateful for every scandalous minute of it.
Left for grad school just before 9-11 and came back to visit a few times immediately afterward.
During my mothering years, I visited Niagara Falls with my kids and brought them to Broadway shows on an annual basis. Also hiked Mt Marcy in the ADKs with them.
Brought my oldest daughter to college upstate and attended her concerts and graduation. At this point, I’d created my LifeQuest and so began visiting/hiking specific places on the way to and from her campus each year.
Trained for both the Ice Age Trail (attempted) and Appalachian Trail (completed) thruhikes using various NY LifeQuest goals.
Spent the last three years working on my NY LifeQuest between various other adventures, and in doing so visited every part of NY except for the ADKs (I’m glad I got to see a bit of that region way back when I did Mt Marcy).
Most recently, during the past couple of weeks, I reconnected with a loved one I had not seen in far too long. That was a major highlight. Understatement.
Also finally met a fellow traveler I’ve been communicating with on Instagram for years.
As for the state itself – New York is beautiful and extremely diverse in both landscape and culture, and it offers so much for both the casual and serious hiker. From the flat but scenic towpaths through small Erie Canal towns to the rugged and remote Adirondack high peaks to the deer-filled trails of Long Island to the gorges and hills of the Finger Lakes region to the Amish farmlands of the southwest to the shores of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Champlain to the beaches of NYC, this state does not lack for a variety of nature and hiking opportunities. I am particularly impressed by what I have experienced of the Long Path, which stretches from the GW Bridge to the ADKs. That’s a gem of a hiking trail, and I encourage anyone looking for a NY backpacking trip to check that out. Bikers, you can traverse the state on the Empire State Trail.
And now, after all these years, it’s my last full day in New York. I sit in an upscale hotel in the Catskills and feel the depth of my memories. The memories bring all different kinds of feelings, but the one that outshines all the others is gratitude. For all the experiences, both good and bad, that I have had in this state throughout my adult life, and for all the individuals who have been part of my timeline here, I am profoundly grateful.