Every adventure with Luz becomes a story — laughter, small rituals, and big discoveries stitched together on the path. This time, we left the familiar behind and ventured into the Shawangunk Mountains of New York, ready to uncover the hidden Ice Caves Trail at Sam’s Point.

The Threshold

At the trailhead, a simple wooden sign read: Ice Caves Trail – Entrance. Nothing flashy, but to us, it felt like a gate into another world.

Beside the path stood an old white house, quiet against the trees, like a guardian of the mountain’s stories. With hats, backpacks, and snacks in hand, we crossed the threshold together — Luz grinning as if she already knew adventure was waiting.

The Journey Begins

The trail opened into long stretches of forest road, sunlight spilling through the trees in patches. Birds called from hidden branches, and every step felt like a gentle initiation.

We paused often: to snack, to laugh, to simply breathe in the green. Luz, with her wide straw hat and mirrored sunglasses, was the perfect hiking companion — equal parts playful and steady.

The Challenge of Stone and Shadow

Soon the easy path gave way to rock. Giant cliffs rose up around us, their surfaces streaked with time. Steps carved into stone pulled us deeper, stairways twisting between towering walls.

Inside the caves, the air dropped instantly cool. Shadows curled around narrow crevices, and patches of ice clung stubbornly to the stone — even in summer. It felt like walking into the earth’s breath, a sacred secret hidden beneath layers of rock.

Rest, Reflection, and Laughter

Every adventure has its pauses. Ours came in the form of snacks by the car, Luz laughing mid-bite, her joy reflected in her glasses. And later, perched on top of a giant rock, she rested hat in hand, smiling at the forest around us.

Moments like these — the in-between, the small — are just as much the adventure as the caves themselves.

The Summit

At last, we reached the overlook. The forest stretched endlessly below, rolling hills painted in green under a wide sky. Luz stood at the edge, hat in one hand, looking out as if the whole horizon belonged to her.

We didn’t say much — we didn’t need to. The view spoke in silence, filling us with the kind of awe you carry long after you’ve gone home.