By all accounts, January 1, 2018 will go down in the record books as a cold one. Here in central Virginia they claimed it was the coldest in 100 years. Yet folks from across the state (and even visitors from other states) braved the frigid temperatures to participate in a Virginia State Parks First Day Hike. In fact we reported to the National Sponsor, America's State Parks, that 7,545 people (and many dogs) came out. Surely not a record since we have been offering this annual event but amazing considering the temperatures.

York River 15 Degrees, One Degree Wind Chill by Roderick Perkinson (first place)
One Word: Brrrrr
 

Across the country (and now that Ontario Provincial Parks offered their first First Day Hikes we are now international). For our participants, you might be interested to know that 120 folks braved minus 45 degree weather in North Dakota to participate in a First Day Hike (one of the coldest temps on the planet according to the National Weather Service). By that measure the coldest Virginia location was almost balmy. Here in Virginia we had the first ever ring in the New Year hike at Pocahontas State Park that included a bon fire and what I understand was a rousing version of Auld Lang Syne at midnight. Sky Meadows offered a first ever sunrise hike, opening the park early to accommodate some stalwart folks. High Bridge Trail State Park offered a hike dedicated to the dogs although almost everywhere folks brought their fur babies out with them to participate in their First Day Hike. 

(BFF) Best Bonfire Friends Forever by Tim Weber (third place)
from the New Year Bonfire at Pocahontas State Park
 

Without further ado, I will get to the contest winners.

First Day Hike New Year Challenge

The winners of the Challenge were selected randomly from those that participated and logged back in to certify they did so (519 people). 

Grand Prize Winner of a $500 Gift Certificate:

 Kimberley Lingler

First Place Winner of a $250 Gift Certificate:

Rachael Chamberlin

5 Second Place Winners of a $100 Gift Certificate:

Lyric Ittner
Ima Johnson
Garret Doll
Linda Frye
Judy Parking

10 Third Place Winners of 10,000 State Parks Loyalty Points:

Erin Pina
Angela Kuhns
Hazel Ladner
Maya Pealer
Barbara Dove
Wayne Kinder
Aaron Teeling
Sallie Zeil
Lindsay Eakin
Beth Bixler

Guided Tour by Matt Gentry featured the scenic Hoover property at
New River Trail State Park (first place)

First Day Hike Photo Contest

It seems to me that every photo contest it gets harder and harder to select the winners. This year it should be no surprise that more photos had "Ice" or a derivative of the word in their titles than any other. There were some beautiful photos of ice and snow in the parks but while we selected some of those, we were looking for photos that also showed folks having fun in the winter. We had lovely family groupings and selfies and many of them would not be recognized by their own mothers given the amount of required outer wear. So it was tough. We are sharing some of the winning photos here but please watch the video to see them all.

The Grand Prize goes to Constance Owen for her three photos that did a great job of showing winter park activities and with great color. 

Birders Brave the Cold by Constance Owen (grand prize)

 

Grand Prize Winner of a $500 Virginia State Parks Gift Certificate

Constance Owen's three photos:
Birders Brave the Cold, Cold Winter Day Hike, and Geocaching
at First Landing State Park

4 First Prize of a $250 Virginia State Parks Gift Certificate

Guided Tour by Matt Gentry (New River Trail)
Scenic First Landing by Chris Peek (First Landing)
York River 15 Degrees, One Degree Wind Chill by Roderick Perkinson (York River)
York River Heron by Brian Zimmerman (York River)

6 Second Prize of a $100 Virginia State Park Gift Certificate

Frozen Sunset by Denise Overton
I'm Here for the Hike by Alyssa White (Grayson Highlands)
Mallards on the Ice and Wing by Nancy Lewis 
Sky Meadows Sunrise Hike by Suzanne Westre Seaberg (Sky Meadows)
Solitude on the Lake by Lauren Gemmell (lake Anna)
Watching the Sunset on the Icy Lake by Heather Sturgill (Pocahontas)

6 Third Prize of a $66 Virginia State Park Gift Certificate
(Wondering about the odd amount? That's the cost of an annual pass)

(BFF) Bonfire Friends Forever by Tim Weber (Pocahontas)
Beach and Burritos by Krissie Cole (First Landing)
First Orienteering Hike by Ann Behne (Pocahontas)
Hot on the Trail by Charlotte McPherson (New River Trail)
Is It Cold Enough to Freeze Bubbles by Desiree Di Mauro (Sky Meadows)
So Excited by Patrick Finn (Natural Bridge)

View the video highlighting all of the winners here:

Congratulations to all our winners. You will have an email about your prize before the end of Monday. Thanks to everyone who came out to make our First Day Hikes successful and all of the folks who entered our contests. A special thanks to all our staff and volunteers who make this event special at their unique sites (on a holiday). I promise we will bring back the bumper stickers next year. Happy New Year!