First Day Spike is a guided free hike program offered by fifty US state park systems each year on New Year's Day. The program started locally in Massachusetts in 1992 and later became national in 2012 under the auspices of the American State Parks alliance.
The hike is meant to promote an alternative way of celebrating the new year by going out, exercising, and experiencing the nature and local history. By 2017, more than 62,000 people participate in First Day Hikes, covering more than 110,000 miles (180,000 km) around 1,300 hikes across the country.
Video First Day Hikes
Hike
The number of different increments offered in each state varies, for example in 2018 New Jersey listing 30, Oklahoma 19, and California offering more than 80 of them.
Spikes vary in duration and difficulty, with many being 1-3 miles (1.6-4.8 km) long, easy in moderate difficulty, and starting between 10 am and 1 pm. and take one to two hours to complete. However there are some very short and easy and family-friendly for all ages, while others weigh with significant elevation elevations. Others, such as the Spruce Run Recreation Area in New Jersey or at Red Rock Canyon State Park in California, are everyday affairs. Walking often stops to hear guides depicting local flora, fauna, or other fascinating historical sites, such as at Monmouth Battlefield State Park in New Jersey. In some locations, park attendants offer drinks and hot snacks after the hike. The number of participants on each increase can range from a dozen to a hundred or more; some increases can even attract two or three hundred people, and in many cases the number often varies depending on the weather.
In some cases, such as at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park in Nevada, guides can take participants to park areas that are normally off limits to the general public. Some features other than walking, such as horseback riding, mountain biking, or all-terrain vehicle. Night hikes have even been held when there is a very bright moon.
Cold weather is usually expected on January 1 in most countries and participants are advised to dress in layers appropriately. In the case of severe winter weather, some increases in a country can be canceled, while others continue to run. People change even in very cold weather, with for example over 1,000 participants throughout Indiana by 2018 despite the high average temperature in the country days 1 Â ° F (-17 Â ° C).
Maps First Day Hikes
History
The tradition began on January 1, 1992, at the state park Blue Hills Reservation in Norfolk County, Massachusetts outside of Boston. It was the brainchild of Patrick Flynn, the Blue Hills Reservation supervisor, who recalls the February winter gap that took place in his Ohio state. The New Year's Day hike in Blue Hills attracted 380 people in its first year, and has since become very popular in that location so the parking lot becomes full and people have to stop their cars along the nearest curb. The beginning of 2018 marks the 27th Annual First Day increase at Blue Hills Reservation. For his contribution, Flynn later received an award from the National Association of State Park Directors; as one Massachusetts state official said at the ceremony, "One person has one idea can really spark a revolution."
Breakheart Reservation in Massachusetts is another park that started training early on. Then in 2008, the increase was added on another site in Massachusetts under the sponsorship of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The increase continues to increase in popularity in the country.
Separately, the tradition of the first day of its other run begins on January 1, 1970, at Assateague State Park in Maryland Eastern Shore. It was started by two women trying to celebrate the beauty of Assateague Island and unite against plans to develop it. This then became an annual tradition, with the 30th iteration that took place in 2010, and became very popular over time, with people driving from different parts of the country to join up to 300 others. The Ilia Fehrer/Judy Johnson Memorial Beach Walk, named after the two women who started it, is now part of the First Hikes list in Maryland.
During 2011, Priscilla Geigis, director of state parks at Massachusetts Conservation and Recreation Department, suggested that other state park directors in nearby countries adopt the practice. This idea quickly spread and on January 1, 2012, state park directors across the country were involved. Thus, First Day Hikes became a national event in 2012, under the American State Parks association, with about 400 hikes on offer. This practice has continued to grow in popularity since then. By 2016, about 55,000 participants are involved in a national upswing. with that number exceeding 62,000 in 2017 with the 1300 increase granted. The effects of the cold waves of North America 2017-18, which provide cold temperatures in most countries, resulted in the number for 2018 decreased to 32,000 participants at about 1,200 increases.
Destination
The American State Parks Association states, "What better way to start the New Year than by starting an extra calorie-burning holiday trip beyond the fun?" Or like the New Jersey park system says about the activities, "This free First Day Spike offers a great incentive to get out, exercise, experience history, enjoy nature, and celebrate New Year with friends and family in one of your state parks." As one of the state parks in Massachusetts itself says, "We want to launch the proverbial year, 'Get out!'"
Some people engage in First Day Hikes to counter the effects of New Year's Eve festivities the previous night, while others find outdoor activities as the best aspect of the entire vacation. Another park officer in Iowa said, "We started this as a health initiative, but it really developed into a good way to spend time with family and do something you might not normally do on that vacation."
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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