Climbing Mount Nittany is an age-old Penn State tradition, one that almost every student aspires to experience before graduating. If the time has come for you to make that famous hike for the first time, keep these tips in mind before setting out.
1. Dress appropriately
While the idea of hiking Mt. Nittany may sound like all fun and games, it is, in reality, a tough climb. The mountain’s elevation surpasses 1,000 feet, so the initial climb up is steep. Make sure to wear sneakers, or even hiking boots if you happen to have a pair of those lying around. Jeans are definitely not recommended. If you want to make the most of your climb, wear something that will allow you to move. As the days get colder, remember to layer up. It won’t be getting any warmer at the top of that mountain.
2. Bring food and water
Nothing will bring you more joy than finally surviving the hike to the top and realizing you have a sandwich or granola bar to sit down and eat. It’s a nice reward for all of your hard work and good fuel for your trek to the different outlooks and your descent back down later. And of course, don’t forget to bring water. Even if it’s cold enough that you don’t break a sweat, your body still needs to rehydrate.
3. Take pictures
A picture is worth a thousand words, right? You’ll want to capture every moment of your hike so you can relive it for years to come. The pictures are also great to share with friends and family, who will either be in awe of your incredible athleticism, or join in reminiscing about their own Mt. Nittany experiences.
4. Start your hike early
It gets dark early in these colder months, so make sure you head to Mt. Nittany in the morning or early afternoon. You want to give yourself plenty of time to make the climb, but also plenty of time to sit around at the overlooks, taking pictures and enjoying the beautiful view that is Happy Valley.
5. Check out more than one overlook
The Mike Lynch Overlook (which overlooks Beaver Stadium) is the most popular of all seven overlooks, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best. The other overlooks are generally quieter, and allow you to take in the type of peace and quiet that you can only find at the top of a mountain. The distances between each overlook aren’t incredibly long, so there’s no excuse to not check out at least one other view.
Remember, your first climb of Mt. Nittany will be yet another great Penn State experience to tell your kids about some day. And with that done, you’ll have plenty of time to cross some other exciting (and thankfully less physically exhausting) activities off your Penn State bucket list.
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