First Day Hikes with NH State Parks!

For the past few years, the Forest Society has partnered with NH State Parks to offer guided hikes on the first day of the new year.  The motivation is to get people out and enjoying NH's natural environments on the very first day of the year, hopefully influencing folks to make a resolution to continue that practice as the year progresses. If they can do it in the frigid temperatures of January, they can certainly handle any other month!  Land Stewards have been a huge part of that effort, helping to plan and organize the "First Day Hikes" event and leading or co-leading guided hikes.  This year, hikes were offered at Monadnock Reservation/Monadnock State Park and on the Little Harbor Loop Trail which runs through SPNHF's Creek Farm Reservation, the Wentworth-Coolidge State Historic Site, and City of Portsmouth conservation land.

First Day Hike at Monadnock

At Mount Monadnock, land stewards John and Lise Bigl led a group of about 20 explorers on a hike along the Parker Trail, which they steward for the Forest Society and Monadnock State Park.  The group had a great day- clear but cold at about 15 degrees above zero - they talked about wildlife habitat, land conservation, forestry and the storied history of Mt. Monadnock as they hiked.

Monadnock

In Portsmouth, the group of participants was large (over 60) and the group split into two factions to hike the Little Harbor Loop trail with SPNHF land stewards Marsha Richelli and Robley Hall as guides.  Children and families made up a good contingent in both hikes, which made for a fun and energetic time.  Check out this video put together by NH State Parks about the First Day Hikes program in New Hampshire.