Temperatures were a bit brisk, in the low- to mid-20s, but the sun was shining, and nearly 1,000 people turned out Wednesday for the state’s First Day hikes in the Blue Hills Reservation.
“My friend invited me three years ago and we’ve been doing it ever since,” Peggy DiNatale of Stoughton said, holding a hot cup of chicken noodle soup. “It’s just fun, something different to do, and it gets you out on the first day.”
She was with Janis and Tracy Parrin, sisters who were looking forward to a walk of 1 to 2 miles.
“It’s a good start to the year,” Tracy Parrin agreed.
A smiling Lt. Tom Bender, a state Department of Conservation and Recreation ranger, greeted hikers as they arrived. This was the 23rd year of the annual event, and the sunshine meant a good showing, he said.
There were four hikes for people of varying abilities. They ranged from three-quarters of a mile to 4 miles.
Stop Shop donated 50 gallons of chicken noodle soup, along with cups and utensils, and volunteers from Trail Watch and Friends of the Blue Hills served the public.
The four choices, from shortest to longest, were: the Houghton’s Pond Family walk; the Winter Wonders walk around Tucker Hill; the Rose Bowl Parade hike of 33/4 miles behind the DCR park headquarters on Hillside Street; and the Buck Hills trek, about 4 miles with some steep hills.
Over the years, many people and families have made the First Day hikes a New Year’s tradition, Bender said.
Some hikers start with the easiest choice and work their way up through the levels of difficulty, he said.
Rangers on horseback did traffic patrolling in the parking lot. Cars were also parked for at least of half-mile along Hillside Street.
Before the hikes began, families gathered around a large campfire. Others watched a bird of prey demonstration by the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
The soup was served at noon, and the hikes began shortly after 1 p.m.
Sue Scheible may be reached at sscheible@ledger.com. Follow her on Twitter@SueS_Ledger.
READ MORE about the Blue Hills.