I would like to kick off this week's article by thanking my esteemed colleague and dear friend Adam Schoenfeld for filling in for Jordan last week. He did a fantastic job, and we are all better for having read the words that he was kind enough to write down. If you see him around, thank him.
Saturday was by far the nicest day we've had at Dartmouth so far, and the Dartmouth sports fans responded with great attendance at most of the outdoor sports events. The baseball field was packed, and there were even a good number of fans who made the one-mile trek down to the softball field for "Ashley Gleason Day" to watch the Big Green take on the Crimson.
I actually have two gripes with the athletic department over the softball game. First of all, move the field closer to campus. I know we're undergoing budget cuts, but our softball team deserves to play home games at home. Second, let the fans be fans. A Dartmouth College athletics official kicked some fans out of the softball game yesterday for cheering against Harvard, and heckling the Crimson's players. I'm sorry, but is this middle school?
As long as the fans maintain an acceptable level of vocabulary, they should be able to yell at whoever they want. I've heard some pretty fierce stuff said at hockey, football and baseball games. Softball should be no different. Let the women have a home field advantage; let the fans be fans.
On to this week's topic: What are the three best warm-weather athletic-related activities found in Hanover?
1) Explore the river.
We at Dartmouth are lucky enough to have our college located right on the Connecticut River. As a rower, I spend a ton of time on the river, but I was never able to really "explore" it until sophomore summer, when I took out a kayak and was able to stop along the shore at certain points. Our river is flat and slow enough to take out kayaks and canoes. Bring a group of friends, or go by yourself and explore the "ins and outs" of the Connecticut.
Be careful -- there is a large dam about three miles south of campus, and you probably don't want to go over the side. If you choose to head north, however, you can literally paddle for miles and miles without having to turn around. Another "plus" of heading north out of Ledyard is that the current will basically carry you home after you grow tired of paddling. There are plenty of spots on the shore where you and your friends can stop you enjoy lunch, if you go out in the middle of the day.
2) Go to "the ledges."
The ledges are rock formations located about 20 minutes from campus by car, and have been a warm weather destination of Dartmouth students for, well, probably a long time. Water runs over the rocks and forms pools. There is plenty of space there, so go on a sunny day, bring a book, friends and a towel.
The ledges are essentially Dartmouth's answer for a beach, without the sand, seaweed and salt water.
It is a really peaceful place to get away from the stresses of the end of the term and just relax. I honestly have no idea how to get there because I've only ever gone as a passenger in a car, and I wasn't paying attention to the road. It is a fair bet that you know someone who knows someone who can get you the directions. In any case, I don't care how you get there, but at some point this spring (or summer, for the sophomores), you really should go.
3) Ride a bike to and hike up Gile Mountain.
I'm not taking about walking up to the fourth floor of Gile Hall. Gile Mountain is located across the bridge in Norwich, Vt. It is a relatively short bike ride from campus (I'm guessing about 20 minutes or less), and, although the last section of the ride approaching the mountain gets a little steep for the casual rider (me), it's nothing too taxing.
The hike up Gile itself won't take you much longer than the bike ride over there, and the view from the top is quite impressive. There is a large firetower on the summit that provides an excellent panoramic view of the surrounding region. Riding to Gile, hiking it, and coming back probably takes a total of two to three hours, depending on how fast you ride your bike, hike, and how long you spend at the top.
And, while the view from the top of Gile is equally magnificent as the view from some of the region's other mountains, the hike's degree of difficulty is far lower. This, combined with the fact that a trip to Gile need not be an "all-day" affair, makes it a perfect warm-weather activity. Riding a bike to and hiking up Mt. Moosilauke is a different story, trust me.
