First Day Hikes a growing way to celebrate the season

Corps crews, some natural wonders like fossils, still others culture and scenery.

Many are pet friendly. Some offer access to places typically off limits.

New this year, in an attempt to create a sense of community, parks are giving away “First Day Hikes” and “I hiked” stickers, as long as supplies last.

There are longer-term benefits to be had, though.

Walking — even moderately strolling along a groomed path — promotes cardiovascular health. So going on a First Day hike following it up with more walks will leave you feeling better.

And not just physically either. Getting outside and exploring is good for mental health, too.

“A number of small studies hint that spending time in green space — nature preserves, woodlands, and even urban parks — may ease people’s stress levels,” reads a story from Harvard Medical School. “Given the growing consensus that stress contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease risk, anything you can do to mitigate stress is likely helpful.”

“There’s a real sense of peace and composure you get from being outside and away from everything,” agreed Aaron L. Baggish, associate director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

So the question is not whether to hike, or even when. There are opportunities out there, all over all the time. It’s just a matter of where to go. Adventure awaits. Pick a trail and get moving, as parade season is upon us.

First Day Hikes and New Year’s resolutions

First Day Hikes can be the start of something bigger.

Lots of people want to be more active, get in shape and lose some weight. That’s usually the first or second most-common resolution made around New Year’s, rivaled only by the commitment to save more money.

Relatively few follow through, though. According to a University of Scranton study, only 19 percent of people stuck to their resolution for as long as two years.

There are some thing you can do to increase the odds you’ll be a long-term, healthy, in-shape hiker, though.

• Start small. According to the American Psychological Association, committing to exercising three or four days a week to start is more reasonable than seven. So plan to hike a couple of times a week, but not every day.

• Stay local. Hikes in far-away exotic locations are thrilling. But if the goal is to get out a lot, don’t overlook local community and county parks. Save the wilder places for weekends and hike where you can, when you can.

• Take a friend. Support is important for any planned change in behavior. Plus, there are benefits to sharing what you love. Studies show that mentoring people new to the outdoors reinvigorates the mentor, too.

• Develop a plan. What most interests you outdoors? The chance to see wildlife? Scenic overlooks? Historical sites? Pick hikes that cater to your interest and develop a schedule for seeing them.

• Be forgiving. Everyone who makes a New Year’s resolution stumbles somewhere along the way. “Perfection is unattainable,” said the Psychological Association. So if you bail on a hike because the weather’s lousy, that’s OK. Just go another day. Bob Frye is the Everybody Adventures editor. Reach him at 412-216-0193 or bfrye@535mediallc.com. See other stories, blogs, videos and more at everybodyadventures. com

DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA FILE PHOTO First Day Hikes offer the chance to explore the woods in a new season, in sometimes new conditions. This couple enjoys an outing on the trails in French Creek State Park.

DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA FILE PHOTO While snow is not in the forecast for the start of 2019, it will arrive eventually. You can enjoy winter hiking with a pair of snowshoes. Walking in snowshoes is an effective exercise during winter months, as it is an easy concept for anyone to learn, and users will exert a lot more energy than hiking regularly. Add a pair of poles to the hike for a good upper body and cardiovascular workout.

DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA FILE PHOTO Walking with a friend, or in this case with two four-legged friends, is good motivation to start the new year on the right foot.

DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA FILE PHOTO With the milder weather we’ve had so far this season, there’s no excuse for getting outdoors to enjoy a hike.