On January 1st, 1992, 380 people showed up to a Massachusetts state park for the very first First Day Hike. They served soup. They've been doing it every year since. Now it's in all 50 states.
Priscilla Geigis — the person who took First Day Hikes from one park to a nationwide movement — and Paul McCormack, President of the National Association of State Park Directors, join me to tell the story and help you find a hike near you.
In this episode: — How First Day Hikes started: one supervisor, one park, one idea (and soup) — How Priscilla expanded it to Massachusetts, then the northeast, then all 50 states — Why Hawaii was the last holdout — and why their sunrise hike became one of the most beloved — What the pandemic year looked like: no counts, just open parks — Tips for first-timers: layers, footwear, water, camera, and pack your patience — Accessibility: track chairs and assistive devices available at many parks — check your state — What to bring in cold weather vs. warm weather — Find a hike at stateparks.org
