Moraine State Park hosts First Day Hike
To begin 2019, Moraine State Park will join hundreds of parks across the nation in hosting a group hike.
The park's First Day Hike is a joint effort between its educator staff and the Butler Outdoor Club. Participants are to gather at the bike rental parking lot on the North Shore. The hike leaves at 1 p.m. Tuesday. The address is 157 North Shore Drive in Portersville.
Jan Berg, the outdoor club's president, said the event typically draws anywhere from 100 to 150 people if weather cooperates. Many participants bring their dogs, she said, which must be leashed.
“Be sure to dress for the weather,” Berg said. “Bring water and wear good shoes or good boots.”
The full hike is five miles long, with the furthest point reaching Burnside Road. It's a there-and-back style trot, and those not wanting to march the full span are encouraged to double back as soon as they see fit.
Those participating can spot the Lake Arthur Dam, a new solar array and a new bridge over Muddy Creek, according to a news release. Berg said they lead the hike through a tunnel that passes under Route 422.
“It's a great way to get out and exercise,” she said.
For those concerned about the weather, Michael Brown, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Pittsburgh, said that there is little to fear Tuesday.
The day's weather, he said, will be typical for Western Pennsylvania at this time of year. Expect temperatures in the low 40s, and a slight chance of inconsistent precipitation. That precipitation, if it falls at all, should only be light rain.
If there will be any snow, he said, it will likely come after the sun sets and will be light.
In Pennsylvania, 29 state parks are hosting similar hikes this year on New Year's Day, according to the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
In previous years, state parks in all 50 states have hosted such hikes.
