New Year, New Trail: Fort Harrison State Park's First Day Hike on January 1st

Hundreds of Hoosiers gathered at Fort Harrison State Park for a First Day Hike on January 1st. These hikes mark the start of the year, aiming to help hikers reconnect with nature and focus on their resolutions."It is a tradition for a lot of people," said Emilie Sweet, the park's interpretive naturalist. "But I love seeing people make new traditions as well."Besty Alt was one of the hikers, participating every year. "So many people come, and it's just a really nice way to commune with other people," Alt explained. "It's just that feeling, I think, of being able to come together. We're all out here enjoying this."Alt says her resolution for 2025 is to invest in new hiking equipment and try to hike once or twice a week."My favorite part about today is hearing everyone's New Year's resolutions," Sweet said. "Some people like to set hiking goals for themselves."Other young hikers were just getting introduced to the trails. "It was really fun," said an excited Esther Stevens. "We hiked on a really long trail." Stevens was there with her family, who enjoyed the scenery and the challenge of navigating through muddy terrain.The park had hot cocoa and cookies waiting for hikers to help them warm up after the hike. For many, the day wasn't just about these treats; it was about taking a moment to appreciate nature's beauty and find peace."It's beautiful out here," Alt described. "You can just hear the wind through the trees, and even though there are hundreds of people out here, it's just really peaceful." This peace for Alt is a welcome escape from the world's chaos.