Around the Mountain by LJ James - Is Rip Van Winkle Still Out There?

GREENE COUNTY — The Catskill Mountains are famous for their beauty, mystery, and one man who turned a nap into a legacy "Rip Van Winkle". But what if Rip wasn’t just a story? 

Some locals still swear they’ve seen a bearded guy wandering near the woods, looking confused… or possibly just hungover.

Rumor has it Rip didn’t just sleep once, he mastered it. Wake up, look around, decide the world got weird, and go right back to sleep. Honestly, relatable. 

A few folks claim he’s been spotted staring at things like they’re sorcery, which is fair if a horse and buggy was all the rage in your day.

Now imagine Rip waking up in 2026. Someone hands him a cell phone and says, “Everything you need is in here.” On TikTok he’d go viral doing absolutely nothing, on Instagram he’d post blurry trees, and on Facebook he’d still be accepting friend requests from anyone with a comfortable couch.

If Rip is out there, he’s probably doing what he’s always done—hanging around quiet towns, avoiding responsibility, and finding a good place to drink. What do you think his favorite town would be? What would his favorite bar be? I would think anywhere that doesn’t ask questions and lets him nap in the corner while wondering if the British are still causing trouble.

So do you believe? No proof, no evidence… just stories. But if you’re deep in the Catskills and see a wild-bearded guy playing on his cell phone looking a little confused, maybe don’t ask questions. Maybe when people come asking, we don't try to prove Rip exists, maybe we just pretend we didn’t see him, and we don't tell anyone! What do you think ?

I am your Bro LJ James and I will see you around the Mountain.