We all need a break once in a while, so why not do it at one of the beautiful mountains that surround Happy Valley. I know last week was a tough one, four exams, classes, homework, and I still needed to study too! So at the end of the week I took a trip to the infamous Mount Nittany to enjoy the sites, feel the breeze, and meet a special Appalachian guide dog.
If you want to locate mount Nittany just type it into any GPS system and it will give you directions to the Nittany Conservancy center at the bottom of the trailhead. The conservancy center has snakes and other animals as well as a notebook to write where you are from and you can see who has been on the mountain that day. Once you start the hike the trail can get a little steep in the begining, but after 20 minutes it flattens out and the rest of the hike is easy and beautiful. The hike is set up in stations with shortcuts in-between each station so you can go to specific views if you wish to or take a shortcut if you don’t feel like going the whole way. You can find more information about the trails and trial maps on the app All Trails or by clicking here.
My favorite part of hiking mount Nittany is the Appalachian trail dog, Shane. Shane’s job is to lead hikers up and down the mountain all day and he loves his job. If you are lucky enough you can meet Shane at the bottom of the trail and he will guide you through the trails! 
Hiking is a great way to stay active and relax your mind among the marvelous sights of nature. If you are feeling stressed, or just have time one day make sure to check out this great hike, and bring some of your friends with you!
Happy hiking nittany lions!