Anderson Marsh State Historic Park celebrates the new year with ‘First Day Hike'
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LOWER LAKE, Calif. — On New Year’s Day, over 100 visitors decided to get a healthy start to 2024 by participating in the tenth annual First Day Hike held at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
Hikers of all ages enjoyed a beautiful, sunny day in the park, and ranged from “old timers” who regularly hike in the park to first time visitors.
“The First Day Hike has become a Lake County tradition,” said Henry Bornstein, one of the State Parks volunteer hike leaders. “With the exception of 2021, which was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the First Day Hikes at the park have attracted over 100 attendees for each of the past ten years. To allow folks to “sleep in” on New Year’s Day, we always begin the hikes at noon.”
The hike this year covered a three-mile loop on the park’s trail system and was led by an all-volunteer team of State Park docents.
The hikers were divided into two groups to accommodate the large number of visitors, with each group starting in a different direction and passing each other in the middle of the hike.
Each group stopped periodically to allow the hike leaders to discuss the flora and fauna that was encountered on the trail.
The recent rains created a good opportunity to identify the animal tracks on the trails and the sunny day was made brighter by Western bluebirds finding perches in the trees and shrubs.
“State Park staff and volunteers at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park are looking forward to the start of another year of guided nature walks at the park, culminating with next year’s First Day Hike,” Bornstein said.