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Community Corner

Yorktown Authors Detail Local Hiking Opportunities for all Ages and Skill

Yorktown residents Jane and Walt Daniels's "Walkable Westchester: A Walking Guide to Westchester County" encourages residents to explore the countless walking opportunities in their area.

Did you know there are more than 600 miles of trails winding around the parks, preserves, and sanctuaries in Westchester County? More than likely, you have driven past these areas on numerous occasions without even realizing that these nearby hiking opportunities even existed.

I have never hiked before in Westchester, nor anywhere for that matter. If you are like me, then walking or hiking along these trails seems impossible. Hikers Jane and Walt Daniels, however believe that walking and hiking is a suitable activity for all ages and skill levels, disagree wholeheartedly with my perspective. 

Jane and Walt Daniels of Yorktown penned the hiking guide "Walkable Westchester: A Walking Guide to Westchester County" to encourage residents to explore the countless walking opportunities in the county area. In "Walkable Westchester," its authors promised that “all homes in Westchester are within one mile of a park boundary or place to walk.”

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Last week the Daniels, along with Scarsdale resident Gloria Lewit, shared anecdotes of past hiking experiences at the Scarsdale Public Library and discussed their endeavors to map and evaluate the numerous trails in Westchester, which they later included in the book.

Gloria Lewit said she has had a passion for hiking for more than 30 years, explaining that her love for the outdoors prompted her favorite hobby. 

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Lewit, whose hiking adventures have taken her to conquer trails in Switzerland, France, Austria, and the Adirondacks, defined hiking as “happily walking in a variety of habitats and terrain" — a pleasant definition that was not at all as scary as I imagined.

Jane Daniels said hiking allows people to connect with nature, history, places and people, and appealed to the health conscious by pointing out that hiking is an inexpensive and low-impact form of exercise. 

Some take short hikes for a few hours, while others backpack or make an entire day trip of hiking. Jane recommended speaking with hikers or joining a hiking group to find places, and recommended some nearby trails that are mentioned in the book. A number of the audience members, having been to the trails before, were able to give tips and comments of their own.

Recommended hiking spots and trails included Colonial Greenway Trail in Scarsdale, which connects seven parks, along with Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Sleepy Hollow, the North County Trailway and the Teatown Lake Reservation and Wildflower Island.

In addition to the trails previously mentioned, "Walkable Westchester: A Walking Guide to Westchester County" included 180 parks and 600 miles of trails to visit. The book also detailed maps, the parks’ history, associated individuals and permitted activities. 

The guide also included driving directions and transportation and park contact information. Furthermore, it included scenic nature photographs of nearby hiking locales, many taken by Jane and Walt during their excursions.

Was Jane able to convince me to take up hiking by the end of her presentation? I may not become an avid hiker like Jane, Walt and Gloria, but I just might consider giving some of the easier trails a try during the spring and summer months.

All proceeds from "Walkable Westchester: A Walking Guide to Westchester County" go towards the New York/New Jersey Trail Conference to maintain and expand trails.

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