random thoughts – Day 1,385 – (Monday) – first hike

The first day of 2024 had a morning hike under the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation “First Day Hikes” program. There were about a dozen state parks and forests in Massachusetts that were on the list, and two were very convenient to the town where my friends live. The DCR team told us the program started in Massachusetts and now all 50 states participate. 

Into the woods.

We chose to hike at Willard Brook State Forest near Townsend. We’ve hiked there before, but the parks and forests have multiple trails and we figured the chances were good we’d be on a trail not familiar to us. Plus, the guided hikes usually include interesting information and decreased odds we would get lost. Hey, it happens. There aren't printed trail maps any longer and the reception in the forest can be nonexistent.

The morning was chillier than we thought it would be based on the weather forecasts posted a couple days earlier. The 30-degree morning meant a base layer under the jeans and sweater, then topped with a zippered fleece and a shell, along with gloves and a hat. There were a couple small warming fires in the meeting area where we gathered to sign photography waivers and were given commemorative “First Day Hike” hats. After introductory comments, we headed into the woods and the happy trees. 

Led by a DCR team member, we hiked a trail that quickly turned into a hill. Another team member said there were 80 of us on the hike, and we stretched out in a line up the hill. Enough heat was generated that I could unzip my jacket a bit and take off the hat.  The couple times when we paused to let the back of the line catch up, it was almost immediate that I felt the chilly air and rezipped and put the hat back on. 

We learned about the types of pine trees that were planted to quickly reforest the park’s once bare land, and how the trees are thinned for forest management and used to make telephone poles. As the current trees reach the end of their life cycle, they are being replaced with a native species. We learned a little bit about the process of acquiring land for the state forests. 

Reflective.

The hike took us along a mostly gravel path. There were stretches where we walked along a rushing stream, some bordered by rivulets of gurgling water, and a couple pools of still water that were as smooth as glass and reflected the trees and sky. For a group of 80 people, the overall vibe was quiet. Hushed almost. The sun emerged about halfway into the hike, and the recent scarcity of sunshine made it a welcome sight.

It was a great hike, and a fun and active way to start the day and the year. Ideally, the year will include many more hikes. I say that every year, and the hike count varies widely from year to year, but a lot of the time it’s due to weather, a crowded schedule, or just a good old lack of planning. 

Happy day, happy trees, happy new year.