With the pealing of the Mary Lyon Hall clock tower bells for five minutes at 7 am, President Lynn Pasquerella declared, Tuesday, October 1, Mountain Day.
A much-loved annual holiday, Mountain Day is Mount Holyoke’s oldest tradition, dating back to 1838, one year after the College’s founding. Mountain Day provides an unexpected break from classes and other obligations, and many students spend the day enjoying outdoor activities. The classic way to celebrate is by hiking up Mount Holyoke in Skinner State Park. Classes scheduled before 4 pm are cancelled for the day, and buses leaving from behind Blanchard Campus Center will provide transportation to the base of the mountain.
Members of the MHC community are invited to hike to the Summit House atop Mount Holyoke, where Dining Services staff will serve ice cream from 9 am through lunchtime.
Staff members are invited to celebrate Mountain Day by enjoying a free piece of pie, which will be served by members of the Staff Council from 11 am to 1 pm on the Blanchard patio. Many alumnae across the globe will also be gathering to celebrate Mountain Day in local venues by eating ice cream together.
You can follow Mountain Day reports on Twitter and Facebook throughout the day, and you are invited to join the conversation. Twitter users are asked to use the hashtag #MtnDay, and students and alumnae are welcome to share their photos on the MHC social media sites.
