Hello! Hope everyone had a nice weekend. I had an amazing day yesterday. I went on a 9-mile hike! My sister found an ad in a magazine for a company called Outdooor Bound Adventures. We are both active and love doing adventurous excursions outdoors. The company has everything from horseback riding to wine tastings to mountain climbing. We did a little research and found a hike called the Raccoon Brook Hike. It is described as a moderate level 9 -mile hike through rugged terrain.
The Raccoon Brook Hill Hike is notable for the marvelous diversity of its terrain and scenery. Join us as we climb to several high vantage points for fine views of the countryside and changing leaves.
Throughout the hike, pass large boulders, wander through mountain laurel tickets, glimpse understories of blueberry bushes and cross intermittent streams. As you continue to climb, you will reach a rock ledge covered in scrub oak and pitch pine with a dramatic overlook of Harriman State Park to the southwest. After one more particularly steep climb (there is a wooden ladder in place to help in one of the steepest parts) you will reach the summit of Raccoon Brook Hill at 1,150 feet.
The trip included transportation to and from the city. It was only $59.00 per person for the 8 hour day. Better yet, they gave us a $5.00 discount for bringing a friend.We thought it was a great deal for an all day tour and we both really needed a break from the busy city. My sister and I arrived at our meeting spot in the city at 8:00 in the morning. We were instructed to bring lunch, 3 liters of water, and hiking boots. I ordered hiking boots last week but they were too small so I wore sneakers instead. I was fine but probably could have used the extra grippage for all of the rocks. Our tour guide did a bag check to make sure we all had 3 liters of water. I was a bottle short so she made me go to the bodega and buy a bottle! I was thankful for that later though. There were about 15 of us and we drove an hour away in a big white van. After a night of drinking, I enjoyed a big Starbucks coffee during the ride there. Let’s just say I was very excited about the restroom at the Visitor’s Center once we arrived. Once we arrived,the first thing I heard was, “The Visitor’s Center bathroom is locked.” Our tour guide was very aware of this and told us to all find a spot in the woods! I guess I should have expected that! We did not get to use a normal restroom until our ride home. Just a warning in case anyone decides to do this trip!
We started our hike by climbing up crazy steep paths. We had to climb rocks, jump over rivers, and slide down mountains. It was hard! It was an amazing workout. The weather was perfect and the view from the top of the mountains was beautiful!
We got to stop every 20 minutes or so to hydrate (and pee in the woods). I was not expecting the hike to be so intense. There was a ton of climbing up reallly steep mountains! Luckily everyone in our group was very fit so we kept a fast pace the entire way. We hiked for 4 hours straight before lunch!
Eventually we arrived at the lake which meant it was LUNCH TIME!! I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for lunch. 4 hours of intense exercise=famished Missy!
We found a nice little spot against the lake to relax and eat. My sister and I brought turkey sandwiches, popchips, fruit, and a nut mix. It was the best turkey sandwich ever.
A few people from our tour jumped in the lake! It was tempting but they said it was freezing and their body went numb. No thanks!
We pretty much collapsed until 2:00 when it was time to start the hike again. We saw some cute animals while lounging around!
We were all exhausted and sore after lunch but we still had 3 more hours of intense hiking! We had to climb down all of these rocks and hills after lunch. I only managed to fall once!
The end of the hike was in the woods along a river. It was really relaxing. Everyone seemed to stop talking and just enjoy the scenery. I don’t even remember the last hour. My mind was completely zoned out. It was a really nice form of meditation.
6 hours later, we finished the 9 miles! It was an amazing and challenging hike. Our tour guide was incredibly nice too. There is another hike with a wine tasting at the end that we plan on doing in July. If anyone is interested let me know!
Once we arrived back in the city, we met my sister’s husband at a restaurant called Boat Basin Cafe for some much needed drinks! The view from our table was beautiful!
I celebrated with 3 sangrias 
Along with a delicious hummus sandwich.
Perfect day. It was great to breathe in fresh air and just hear birds chirping all day. Back to reality today! I am incredibly sore but it feels good! It is always nice to get away from the gym for a different type of workout.
Have you ever been on a hike? How long and where?
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Those pics look amazing! I love hiking and have been taking my dog on short hikes in Rock Creek Park since it has been getting warmer out. But I think I’m due for a longer one – these pictures make me want to go this weekend!
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What a perfect spring day. That hike and all of the views look amazing. The one in July sounds even better with a fun wine tasting at the end! I can’t believe people actually went in the water!
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What a wonderful idea for a group gathering! I’m so borrowing this idea for a “girls afternoon out” this summer!
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Just reading this post makes me want to run away to the wilderness for a week.
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That looked like a wonderful experience.I would love to do that some day:-)cc
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Sounds like an awesome hike! Hiking followed by wine tasting….definitely let me know the details. I would be down to meet up and do some hiking!
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That sounds like such a fun day trip…my dad would be all over it, he loves to hike! I’ve wanted to go to the Boat Basin Cafe for ages, it looks so pretty!
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Holy sh*t. I would die.
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That sounds like so much fun! I would LOVE to go on a hike like that – I might even look into it.
People wouldn’t guess it from meeting me (definite city girl/girly girl) but I am totally outdoorsy. For 10 years I went to a camp in the back-lakes of Ontario, Canada and went on tons of hikes and canoe trips (once for a whole month)! I miss it!
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i think i would have been a maniac by the end of the hike! i’ve been wanting to get up to bear mtn and do some of the trails on that!
shoot me the deets on the wine tasting hike! if my wallet allows it it sounds like it would be super fun
plus we need another dinner date soon! joanne wants to get together too. how about sometime after june 11th? hahaha i know that’s far BUT i have school + wedding until then. let me know girlfraan
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Wow that looks like an amazing day! I would love to try that one day…I have to go do some research on this place lol
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I love hiking. Now I feel like going on a super long hike this weekend. Hmmmmmm.
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i LOOOVE hiking! best place ever was in costa rica!!! awesome pics girl!!
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Wow, what gorgeous scenery. I would have jumped into the lake – I would have been so hot and it would have been so refreshing.
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I love hiking but never done one as intense as that one! I wish I would have hiked more when I lived in AZ, the mountains out there were unreal!
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I LOVE hiking. Your trip looks like so much fun!!
I live in the foothills of the appalacian mountains, so I have many hiking options around here. My favorite trail is probably 7 or 8 miles? It goes straight up a mountain. By the time I’m finished, I’m completely spent!
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This looks like such a great experience! There really aren’t many areas around here to do something like this, unless you travel about 90 minutes north. I always want to go hiking/camping in the fall, but we never do!! This makes me crave it now, as I really miss being outdoors in the “wilderness” more (and using the ground for a toilet!). You and your sister make a great team, both very beautiful
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Ahhh that looks AWESOME! I’ve been wanting to go for a hike for so long and there’s nothing to do around here…looks like a great day!!
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[...] Contact Me « 9 Mile Hike! [...]
I love hiking and that trip sounded awesome it made me want to go for one now! I am actually going to Colorado for six weeks to hike and climb in the rocky mountains and this post made me feel excited for it!!!
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[...] today I will talk about the hike and wine tasting I went on yesterday! My sister and I went on a 9-mile hike about a month ago with a company called Outdoor Bound. We booked another one right away since the [...]
[...] past Sunday I went on my third hike with Outdoor Bound. You may remember my 9-mile hike this past May and my 5-mile hike, swim, and wine-tasting in July! So far I’ve loved every [...]
[...] went on my first hike with Outdoor Bound. It was a beautiful and challenging 9 miles! It really made me appreciate fresh [...]
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