Thousands hike at Taughannock Falls State Park for New Year's Day
TRUMANSBURG, N.Y. (WENY) -- It is the first day of the new year. Some celebrated by lying on the couch, heading off to work, or going on a hike.
Over 2,000 hikers headed out to Taughannock Falls State Park for this year's “First Day” hike that has been going on for 13 years. This year's hike was even more significant because it was the first kick-off event for the Centennial Celebration of the New York State Park system.
“It's become a tradition,” Josh Teeter, organizer with New York State Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, said. “We started slow...with only six people in our first year that has steadily grown and every year I see returning people who are bringing their friends and family and that's become a tradition.”
Denise Milito was one of the returning hikers that loves to celebrate this tradition.
"We do it every year,” she said. “We love it. We have been doing it forever and it’s actually kind of balmy, today. It has been very cold in the past.”
Milito said today was a great way to ring in the new year with a few friends and her dog Albert.
“We all get together so no matter what we do the night before, we all show up here in the morning, and have a nice hike together, take pictures...and that's how we start the year,” she said.
James Boodley lives nearly five miles away from the park and had never taken part in the largest "First Day" hike. When Boodley saw people flooding the park, he said he wanted to check it out and meet some friendly faces.
“This is my first time here on January 1st ... I had no idea this was taking place,” he said. “I was taking pictures up at the overlook and I thought, ‘Uh oh, there's thing going on here...we need to find out what's going on.’”
13-year-old Vashti Swartwood said her favorite part about New Year's Day is coming out to hike with two other families and a boat-full of kids to carry on the tradition.
“...just being with all of my friends and getting to walk around,” she said.
Teeter said the hike to New York State's tallest waterfall welcomes new faces and returning friends every year.
“Having people come back year after year and seeing those smiles...and it's a good, healthy way to start the new year,” he said. “It's a really rewarding part of my job.”