Mountain Day, a long-standing Storm King School tradition dating back to the early 1930s, is a day when all students and faculty make a scenic trek up Storm King Mountain together and gather at the summit to enjoy the views. A highlight of student orientation, this annual hike introduces our students to the natural environment surrounding the campus and serves to boost school unity and spirit at the start of the school year.

New Head of School Lisa Shambaugh was eager to join the annual hike and share the experience with the community: “As I began learning about The Storm King School last year, one of the first traditions that caught my attention was Mountain Day. I loved the idea that we open the school year by hiking as a community to the top of a mountain. I was very excited to take part, and this year’s hike lived up to my expectations. The hike isn’t the easiest; it’s about a mile up, it’s steep in places, and there are some sections which involve a little rock scrambling.”

Storm King’s sixth Headmaster, Anson Barker, initiated the first Mountain Day during the fall of 1932–the first year of his 19-year tenure. On a crisp November morning of that year, he excused students from classes and sent them into Black Rock Forest on hiking excursions which later culminated in a picnic feast. The event proved to be so enjoyable its tradition has endured until today.

On the morning of this year’s hike, perfect weather greeted the hikers who set out early to navigate the trails behind Spy Rock House. The group made their way up to Butter Hill, the summit of Storm King Mountain, where they enjoyed a breathtaking 360-degree view of the Hudson River Valley, Black Rock Forest, and the Catskill Mountains. Upon their return to campus, everyone gathered on Ledoux Terrace for a barbecue lunch.

“I enjoyed seeing our students challenging themselves and helping each other, and it was a great feeling to gather together at the top to take the traditional photos and enjoy the view,” continued Ms. Shambaugh. “I hope the students hold on to that sense of accomplishment they felt, both as individuals and as a community, throughout the 2024-2025 school year. It’s going to be a great year!”