2018 Friends' First Day hike- Start off on the right foot

Help us start the New Year off on the right foot again with a hike in Myles Standish on New Years Day.

We are offering you the choice of a short hike or a longer hike:

• a relaxing easy 2.5 mile walk around the lovely East Head Reservoir trail. The walk generally takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half at a moderate pace. Fast walkers can do it it in less than an hour.
• The 3.7 mile Bentley Loop combined with the East Head Reservoir loop. (A 7 mile hike in total when you add in the connector trail.) This whole trip takes three to four hours. Be sure to bring water and snacks with you!

Both groups will start off together from the amphitheater behind the forest headquarters on Cranberry Road. Park in the main headquarters lot.

Meet us at 10:45am for an 11:00 hike start.

Dress warmly. When hiking, multiple thinner breathable clothing layers that can be added or subtracted as necessary are very helpful on cold days (compared to massive overcoats) because people generally warm up quickly when hiking and then have to start shedding. Rapid cooling can occur whenever the hike pauses. The ability to adjust to conditions is essential to having a good time and a safe trip.

Good warm boots are certainly helpful if there is snow. If there is enough snow, snowshoes are welcome.

Deer hunting season ends on December 31st so hunters should not be an issue.

The restrooms at the headquarters will be open. We are also hoping to have a campfire and hot cocoa to offer hikers.

This will be our sixth annual First Day hike.

The Friends website (http://www.friendsmssf.com) tells all about our many activities over the last year celebrating the Centennial of Myles Standish State Forest.

The Friends are not operated by the Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). We are just people like you who love Myles Standish, the biggest park in eastern Massachusetts. The Friends of Myles Standish celebrated our 10th year in 2017.

Join us. Help us make this a fun event. We've been going out for a New Year's Hike every year since 2012.

Photos from the 2017 First Day Hike (https://www.meetup.com/friendsofmylesstandishstateforest/photos/27517124/)- We did the East Head Reservoir again.

Photos from 2016 First Day Hike (https://www.meetup.com/friendsofmylesstandishstateforest/photos/26643035/)- With the DCR, we had over 150 join us for the East Head Reservoir loop.

Photos from 2015 First Day Hike (https://www.meetup.com/friendsofmylesstandishstateforest/photos/25823064/)-- We did the Friends Trail.

Photos from 2014 New Year's Day Hike- Start Easy or Start Hard (https://www.meetup.com/friendsofmylesstandishstateforest/photos/19311992/)- Option of 2.5 mile East Head or 6+ miles combined with Bentley Loop

Photos from the 2013 New Year's Day hike (https://www.meetup.com/friendsofmylesstandishstateforest/photos/12393972/)- Around the East Head Reservoir

Photos from the 2012 New Year's Hike (https://www.meetup.com/friendsofmylesstandishstateforest/photos/5169282/)- We hiked 5 miles from the HQ through Barrett's Pond and up to Three Cornered Pond Road and back.