All of us here at Trails of Freedom would like to wish you a very Happy New Year from the snow-covered trails of Sleeping Giant State Park.

Spending the last day of 2010 snowshoeing along the trails of Sleeping Giant State Park.

Cedar Swamp Brook cascades gently throughout Shelter Falls Park, a 75-acre tract of woodlands in Mansfield, Connecticut.

Beginning the steep ascent from the Pali Lookout, the Pali Puka trail climbs along the narrow ridgeline of the Ko’olau Mountains. High winds and sheer vertical drops make this short hike an exciting trip. At the trail’s peak is the Pali “Puka,” a “window” in the rock face of the mountain where King Kamehameha would watch for approaching enemies.

Join Trails of Freedom as we kick off our winter hiking series at Cathedral Pines, where we hope to find this old-growth forest decorated in a blanket of white.

You can’t train for this. There is no amount of running, swimming, pull-ups, push-ups, weight training, cardio or dieting that will prepare you for the shock.