News

Reporter Journal: A sunrise trek through wild solitude in New York City

Published

1 year ago

November 30, 2024

Reporter Journal: A sunrise trek through wild solitude in New York City

New York City shimmers sunrise. From the wildest corners of Central Park, the city is framed by forests. The sound of traffic and sirens is softened by the murmur of streams and geese taking flight from lakes.

Brian Mann/NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

Brian Mann/NPR

It was super early, not yet four o’clock in the morning, when I set out on a Bronx-bound local train at the start of an urban hike that would take me through some of the wildest places in Manhattan.

This isn’t how my hikes usually start. Usually I’m driving back roads searching for a hiking trail.

But on this day the subway dropped me at 125th street on the edge of Harlem. I climbed out of the station to a city still asleep, just one solitary guy setting up a fruit stand on the sidewalk.

An early morning trek in New York City leads through urban places where New Yorkers are starting their day and through peaceful parklands full of birds and winding streams. At this hour, the crowds are absent.

An early morning trek in New York City leads through urban streets where New Yorkers are starting their day and through peaceful parklands full of birds and winding streams. At this hour, the crowds are absent.

Brian Mann/NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

Brian Mann/NPR

After getting my bearings, I put on my headlamp and set off into the tangled wilds of Morningside Park. This isn’t really wilderness, but in the early darkness it felt like it.

A few minutes walking brought me into winding trails where I was surrounded by birds flitting through the trees.

The 36-acre Ramble is designed to resemble a wild forest in upstate New York. There are millions of people within a few miles but the winding trails feel remote.

Brian Mann/NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

Brian Mann/NPR

I hiked on and it was magical how remote the park could seem. The trail was so windy in places, the trees so thick, I had to use my phone to figure out where I was. I managed to get lost in a forest in the center of Manhattan.

In Central Park, woodland paths lead through arched tunnels. The first dawn light and the electric glow of the city shine on the stonework.

Brian Mann/NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

Brian Mann/NPR

I hiked on and in places I could see the stars merging with the lights of the skyline. I love New York City, the noise, the encounters with strangers and the hectic pace.

But I also have a hunger for solitude. On this walk, under a glowing moon, it felt like I had this beautiful place all to myself. One discovery — in Morningside Park and after crossing into Central Park — was the abundant water. There are lakes and ponds everywhere. Winding streams tumble down in little waterfalls.

Parts of Manhattan that are crowded with tourists during the day turn into wild, solitary places in the pre-dawn hours of morning.

Brian Mann/NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

Brian Mann/NPR

My goal was to reach what may be the wildest corner of Central Park – 36 acres of hills and forest near the Upper West Side called the Ramble. These woodlands were planned and planted this way over a century ago, made to resemble the Catskills or the Adirondack Mountains.

I made it just in time to see the sun rise, scrambling up an outcrop of stone as the skyscrapers turned orange and rose and blue. Millions of people all around me, but here it was just birds and wind in the trees and the sun rising over the city..

After hiking through New York City under the stars, NPR’s Brian Mann watched the sun rise from the Ramble, the 36-acre wild forest in the heart of Central Park. A Narnia-like lamp post glows in the thicket.

Brian Mann/NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

Brian Mann/NPR

News

Map: Earthquake Shakes Central California

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Map: Earthquake Shakes Central California

Note: Map shows the area with a shake intensity of 3 or greater, which U.S.G.S. defines as “weak,” though the earthquake may be felt outside the areas shown. All times on the map are Pacific time. The New York Times

A minor earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.5 struck in Central California on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The temblor happened at 7:17 a.m. Pacific time about 6 miles northwest of Pinnacles, Calif., data from the agency shows.

As seismologists review available data, they may revise the earthquake’s reported magnitude. Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map.

Source: United States Geological Survey | Notes: Shaking categories are based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake. All times above are Pacific time. Shake data is as of Monday, March 2 at 10:20 a.m. Eastern. Aftershocks data is as of Monday, March 2 at 11:18 a.m. Eastern.

News

US says Kuwait accidentally shot down 3 American jets

Published

7 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

US says Kuwait accidentally shot down 3 American jets

The U.S. and Israel have been conducting strikes against targets in Iran since Saturday morning, with the aim of toppling Tehran’s clerical regime. Iran has fired back, with retaliatory assaults featuring missiles and drones targeting several Gulf countries and American bases in the Middle East.

“All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation,” Central Command said.

“The cause of the incident is under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available,” it added.

In a separate statement later Monday, Central Command said that American forces had been killed during combat since the strikes began.

“As of 7:30 am ET, March 2, four U.S. service members have been killed in action. The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries,” it said.

Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing. The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification,” Central Command added.

This story has been updated.

News

Satellite images provide view inside Iran at war

Published

19 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Satellite images provide view inside Iran at war

Smoke rises over Konarak naval base in southern Iran on Sunday. The base was one of hundreds of targets of U.S. and Israeli forces throughout the country.

Planet Labs PBC

hide caption

toggle caption

Planet Labs PBC

Commercial satellite images are providing a unique look at the extent of damage being done to Iran’s military facilities across the country.

The U.S. and Israeli military campaign opened with a daytime attack that struck Iranian leadership in central Tehran. Smoke was still visible rising from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s compound following the attack that killed the supreme leader.

An image by the company Airbus taken on Saturday shows the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Iran’s Leadership House in central Tehran. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening wave of attacks.

Pléiades Neo (c) Airbus DS 2026

Advertisement

hide caption

toggle caption

Pléiades Neo (c) Airbus DS 2026

Israel and the U.S. have gone on to strike targets across the country. Reports on social media indicate that there have been numerous military bases and compounds attacked all over Iran, and Iran has responded with attacks throughout the Middle East.

U.S. forces have also been striking at Iran’s navy. In a post on his social media platform, President Trump said that he had been briefed that U.S. forces had sunk nine Iranian naval vessels. U.S. Central Command did not immediately confirm that number but it did say it had struck an Iranian warship in port.

An image captured on February 28 shows a ship burning at Iran's naval base at Konarak.

An image captured on Saturday shows a ship burning at Iran’s naval base at Konarak.

hide caption

toggle caption

Numerous satellite images show burning vessels at Konarak naval base in southern Iran. Images also show damage to a nearby airbase where hardened hangers were struck by precision munitions.

Hardened aircraft shelters at Konarak airbase were struck with precision munitions.

hide caption

toggle caption

And there was extensive damage at a drone base in the same area. Iran has launched numerous drones and missiles toward Israel and U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Many drones have been intercepted but videos on social media show that some have evaded air defenses and caused damage in nearby Gulf countries. In Dubai, debris from an Iranian drone damaged the iconic Burj Al Arab, according to a statement from Dubai’s government.

Buildings at an Iranian drone base at Konarak were destroyed in the strikes.

hide caption

toggle caption

Iran’s most powerful weapons are its long-range missiles. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have hidden the missiles deep inside mountain tunnels. Images taken Sunday in the mountains of northern Iran indicate that some of those tunnels were hit in a wave of strikes.

Following Khamenei’s death, Iran declared 40 days of mourning. Satellite images showed mourners gathering in Tehran’s Enghelab square on Sunday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told NPR on Sunday that Iran will continue to fight “foreign aggression, foreign domination.”

A White House official told NPR that Trump plans to talk to Iran’s interim leadership “eventually,” but that for now, U.S. operations continue in the region “unabated.”

A large crowd of mourners fill Enghelab Square in Tehran on Sunday, following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

hide caption

toggle caption