Hey all! So excited to see you here. My name is Sydney and I'm a '24 passionate about energy, education, the environment, and economic policy. I grew up in Southern California, but have also lived abroad in Gibraltar, Spain, and the Philippines. When not blogging or working at McNutt as a Senior Admissions Fellow, you can catch me involved in the Dartmouth Energy Alliance, Energy Justice Clinic, and Greek Life. I hope my blog can give you a window into Dartmouth from a student's perspective.
Academic Program
Majors in Economics and Environmental Studies, Minor in International Studies
Hey blog, I'm not in California anymore! One of the best parts of living in Hanover is the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Upper Valley's natural beauty. Visiting Gile Mountain is a magical 75-minute escape from campus into the breathtaking wilderness of Norwich, Vermont. If you visit during a three-week window, you can experience the turning of the trees – a brief transitionary period where the lush green leaves erupt into vibrant warm hues before tumbling down for the winter.
This week, I collaborated with a fellow '24 blogger Griselda on a news article for The Dartmouth about fall leaf peeping. On Friday, we grabbed lunch outside FoCo (the main dining hall) together to celebrate the publication of our first ever college article. While talking, Griselda gushed all about her visit to Gile through an electric bike tour organized through the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC), so it seemed especially fitting that I make the trip to see the peak foliage leaves for myself! That same day after classes, four friends and I rented a Zipcar to celebrate the completion of some midterms and a successful end to a productive yet hectic Week 4. Windows down and indie rock music blasting, we crossed over the New Hampshire border and ventured deeper and deeper into the state of Vermont. As the roads narrowed, the trees packed closer together and the homes grew further apart. After parking the Zipcar, we started trekking on a 25-minute uphill stone step journey to the mountaintop until we finally encountered a colossal fire tower.
My friends and I climbed the 90-step fire tower to reach the stunning observation deck.
Other groups ahead of us were socially distanced as they also waited for their own turns to climb the tower. When our turn came, we climbed flight after flight of stairs – high above the treetops until we made it to the stunning observation deck. As luck would have it, we arrived at the top just as the sun began to set over the blanket of red, orange, and yellow trees. The golden hour created the perfect lighting effect that illuminated the trees' vibrant colors, making each leaf pop one shade at a time. With no clouds in the sky, you could see miles upon miles in any direction. One of my friends even pointed out that we could spot Dartmouth from the very top!
At a 413-foot elevation, I felt so at peace with myself, the dense nature before me, and my journey at Dartmouth thus far. I'm so glad I was able to summit the fire tower before the crisp autumn leaves tumble from the sky. Climbing Gile at peak foliage definitely tops my list of most exhilarating ways possible to kick off the weekend. I can't believe the term is nearly halfway over, so stay tuned for more blogging adventures!
And the sun sets on another action-packed week at Dartmouth!
Walking through Dartmouth's vibrant fall foliage and reflecting on my Sophomore Fall experiences underscored the importance of community and embracing opportunities.
On busy autumn weekdays, when mornings are filled with classes and half-finished coffee cups, my friend's car and some empty stomachs lead us to quick off-campus brunch trips to The Skinny Pancake in Quechee, Vermont!
It's hard to believe that it has been a year since I wrote my first end-of-fall-term reflection. It felt like only yesterday that I stepped into my dorm room this September, eager to reunite with my friends.
