GAITHERSBURG, Md. 鈥斅燚espite the biting cold, dozens of hikers gathered at Seneca Creek State Park for an annual tradition known as First Day Hikes.
鈥淭here is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices,鈥� said park volunteer guide Bonnie Bell of Gaithersburg, Maryland. And, according to her, it’s a saying聽rangers at the park use that sums up why she chose to come out on such a frosty day.
Bell was dressed in what she said was a very warm beaver costume and was among those聽guiding people brave enough to come out. Other hikers had their faces covered in scarves, hands in gloves and their heaviest jackets on.
First Day Hikes take place across the nation, and this one is part of聽. Several parks around Maryland held similar hikes.
During milder starts to the year, Bethany Watts, a lead ranger at the park, said they have seen close to 200 people come out for the guided hikes. This year, they fell far short of that, but despite the low temperatures, she said, many kept their plans to come out.
鈥淲e had quite a few phone calls from a lot of our visitors this morning saying that [they] were still interested in coming out and still wanted to join us,鈥� Watts said.
The wintertime gives park visitors a clearer look at the wildlife that lives there, since trees don鈥檛 have their leaves and snow covers the ground, according to Watts. Hikers also get to see the snow tracks of many of the park’s resident animals, Bell added.
鈥淔oxes, raccoons, occasionally beavers, although right now, our beavers are iced in so they are not coming out,鈥� Bell said.
Hiker Jim Crabtree said the hike will make an 鈥渋nteresting鈥� start to 2018 for him, and it fits into his exercise regimen. 鈥淚 walk for exercise, and I feel that if I don鈥檛 get out and I don鈥檛 walk, I don鈥檛 feel right,鈥� he said.
And for MaryAnn Shirven of Derwood, who has lived in upstate New York, it wasn’t even that cold of a hike, saying, 鈥淚 could have definitely done without my jacket out there.”
