Staying Fit in the Off-Season: Hiking Sleeping Giant Park and Steep Rock Preserve

Happy New Year to all my readers!  May 2012 bring you health, wealth and happiness.

I wanted to catch you up on what I’ve been doing in the off season. Last time I rode my bike was Thanksgiving weekend. November and December were incredibly mild months, and I probably could have kept on riding through the New Year.

But alas, when the holidays roll around, cycling takes a back seat to other important pursuits including shopping, decorating and attending ugly sweater and other indulgent holiday parties.

So here we are almost two months later and with the start of the New Year I’m trying to stay fit for the coming spring season.  Because of the snowless (so far) winter, I’ve been able to do some hiking and joined a gym to spin -- more on spinning in my next post.  When I can’t do either, I hit my indoor trainer where my trusty Bianchi waits for warmer days. 

Over the holiday break, I hiked . On Christmas day, my husband Tom and I hiked part of the Quinnipiac Trail, a 24-mile, Blue-Blazed trail that passes through SGSP for five miles.

We climbed the steep, smooth rock face, or giant’s chin, (670 feet) that offers sweeping views of Quinnipiac University (my alma mater), New Haven and Long Island Sound.

This tough little climb, that we also hiked New Year’s Day, got my heart pumping and my hips and legs felt sore afterward. If are you scared of heights, I don’t recommend it, but it was a clear, windless day and the views were amazing.

Hiking alone one day, I walked SGSP’s popular 1 1/2 mile scenic trail that leads to a stone observation tower, which also provides stunning views of Long Island Sound and the New Haven area. This gently sloping trail is flat and wide and popular with runners, dog walkers and families.  It can be accessed from the main parking lot on Mt. Carmel Avenue and is a three mile round trip.

For a great workout and extra challenge, I suggest running it. If you are alone, this is a pretty safe choice as the trail is the main trail to the tower, an easy walk, and thus a busy thoroughfare.

Normally, I prefer to hike the back side of the park or lesser used trails to get away from the crowds. Other quieter SGSP trails can be accessed from Tuttle Avenue.

In the past two weeks, we’ve also hiked Steep Rock Preserve in Washington Depot. Years ago, we mountain biked this preserve and hadn’t been there since the mid-1990s!

They no longer allow mountain biking, but hikers and horseback riders can experience its two main blazed trails: Pinney Loop at 1.7 miles offers an easy hike along the rushing Shepaug River or a longer 4.2 mile hike to the Steep Rock summit -- a moderately strenuous climb that rewards the hiker with incredible views of the river and the dramatic contour of the Clam Shell.

Unwittingly, we chose two particularly cold days for both these hikes. We made our way up to the summit as the sun was setting. I let out a whoop as I beheld the amazing 180-degree view. The sun was a big orange ball just hanging in the air as we looked down over the river, heard its rush and witnessed its dramatic bend and how the landscape looks like a large brown, grey and green 'clam shell.'

On the way down and out, we hiked over the river on a wooden suspension bridge that bounced lightly under our feet. The walk out follows the river and is flat and easy. Back in the parking lot, I was pretty tired and happy to get into the car and crank up the heated seats.

After both Steep Rock hikes, we rewarded ourselves with frothy hot lattes, hearty split pea soup and creamy chicken salad wraps at The Pantry in town. On the drive home, we stopped at the and bought their delicious apricot scones and several types of sugary coated, large cookies.  

While hiking can be a great workout and gets me outdoors, it is not enough to keep me fit and ready to cycle come March. Look for my next post on spinning -- a loud and sweaty experience...

Until then, if you find beauty in nature, get out of the house and take a hike!

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