Looking for an easy way to destress after a long week of work? Taking a walk outside can be a simple way to clear your mind, get a change of scenery and release endorphins. On Saturday, Oct 5, the Outdoors Club took this idea one step further by making the long journey to Hamden, Connecticut in order to hike the trails of Sleeping Giant State Park. Led by club president Lara Primakov, vice president Sam Healey and social media representative Caroline Smith, fifteen students packed into cars and drove towards Quinnipiac University in order to hike the trails of the park. Sleeping Giant State Park itself is a gorgeous but rugged landscape filled with rocky paths, steep hills, towering trees and breathtaking views. While the hike itself took us high up into large bluffs and forests, the trail itself was very beginner friendly for people who may not be avid hikers. The hike to the top took around two hours, but that time wasn’t spent purely walking. With music blasting from the exec board’s speaker, we took time to stop at rest points and observe the landscape of Connecticut, have time for a snack and of course say “hi” to the many dogs also taking hikes (including one cat on a leash!). Once we reached the top, we were greeted by a large stone lookout tower that we could climb up. The tower also marked the highest point in the park, providing stunning views of the Long Island Sound, towns and forests. The trees have also begun to change colors, which greatly contributed to the natural beauty of the scene from the top of the Sleeping Giant. After taking several pictures with new friends and club members, we began the descent back down the mountain. While hiking up the Sleeping Giant took a lot of effort, going down wasn’t nearly as difficult due to the group conversations held the entire way to the bottom. Before we knew it, the hike was over and it was time to head back to Fairfield after a long day of exercise, achievement, and fun.
If this hike and all that it entailed sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend joining the Outdoors Club. The executive board made the trip so much fun and they always try to host other fun events such as apple picking. If you’re looking to connect with nature in a fun and exciting way or just simply looking for an activity to do with friends, the Outdoors Club may just be the club for you!
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